PM Robert Abela Visits Protestors Outside Parliament – Promises Government Will Revisit Proposed Planning Reforms
Prime Minister Robert Abela visited the protest site outside Parliament, where environmental activists have been camping out in opposition to the government’s proposed planning reform bills.
The activists, led by Moviment Graffitti, have set up around two dozen tents in Valletta’s Republic Street, vowing to remain in place for several days as part of their campaign Ġustizzja għal Artna (Justice for Our Land).
Speaking to Malta Daily, Moviment Graffitti representative Andre Callus confirmed that the Prime Minister met with protesters in a casual, on-site discussion. “During the meeting, we reiterated our position against the proposed planning reforms,” Callus said. “The Prime Minister promised that the government will revisit these plans.”
Callus, however, expressed cautious optimism. “While such promises are hopeful, they do not represent a tangible change to the current worrying situation. The proposed laws are so fundamentally flawed that they cannot be improved, they need to be scrapped and rewritten entirely.”
He nonetheless acknowledged Abela’s gesture. “We appreciate that the Prime Minister took the time to visit and hear us out. We’re glad that through this protest, we’ve attracted the right attention, and we’ll continue putting pressure until these reforms are withdrawn.”
Callus also reaffirmed that protesters remain open to dialogue, saying that Moviment Graffitti and the wider coalition of NGOs have “repeatedly stated their willingness to sit down and discuss the urgent environmental and planning reforms Malta truly needs.”
Environmental activists arrived unannounced outside Parliament on Sunday morning, quickly erecting a chain of tents to form a visible act of resistance. The protest coincides with Monday’s budget speech, one of the busiest parliamentary sessions of the year, and is part of the ongoing Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign, which has been opposing Bills 143 and 144, along with three related legal notices, since July.
The activists argue that the proposed reforms would weaken environmental safeguards, empower developers, and undermine public rights. They claim the new laws would make planning regulations ineffective and give excessive control to the Planning Authority, while also granting a blanket amnesty for various types of illegal developments across the country.
In contrast, the government maintains that the reforms are designed to streamline planning procedures and strengthen enforcement mechanisms.
The Ġustizzja għal Artna movement has called for a nationwide protest on Monday, 27 October, starting from the Law Courts at 5:30 p.m. and marching towards Parliament. Moviment Graffitti, along with BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, and Friends of the Earth Malta, will lead the demonstration.
In a statement, the organisers said:
“This so-called planning reform is a Damocles’ sword hanging over the people’s heads. It threatens our cherished places, communities, social justice, and democracy. The people have the power to stop this assault on their quality of life and defend against the greed of developers.”
With tents set up in the capital and growing public attention, Ġustizzja għal Artna protesters say they plan to continue their sit-in until the government withdraws the bills entirely — not just revises them.
Meanwhile, just hours before the national Budget, Prime Minister Robert Abela hinted at a major announcement set to be unveiled tonight.
In a message shared earlier today, the Prime Minister said:
“Tonight we are announcing one of the most important and powerful measures of our generation in favour of families. We are doing this because Malta has a strong economy that will continue to provide a future for our children.”
While no details have yet been revealed, Abela’s statement suggests that the measure, expected to be part of tonight’s Budget 2025, could be a cornerstone policy aimed at supporting families across Malta.
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