VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Hundreds gathered outside Parliament on Monday evening in a mass protest against new planning reforms, branded a “developers’ coup,” as Finance Minister Clyde Caruana delivered the 2026 Budget inside.
The demonstration, led by the Ġustizzja għal Artna coalition — an alliance of more than 70 NGOs — was a coordinated act of defiance aimed at exposing what activists called a crisis in environmental governance.
The protest capped a weekend of activism, including a protest camp set up outside Parliament since Sunday.
Prime Minister Robert Abela met the campers, but the speeches pulled no punches. Moviment Graffitti’s Andre Callus warned that Bills 143 and 144 “will destroy our country,” accusing the government of betraying citizens for the sake of developers. “People will resist, people will fight for our land,” Callus vowed, urging MPs to reject the legislation.
Other speakers accused the government of abandoning promises to strengthen planning appeals and protect heritage sites.
The coalition insists the proposed reforms would erode environmental safeguards, weaken citizens’ rights, and grant broad powers to the Planning Authority. Protest leaders pledged to continue mobilising until the bills are withdrawn.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
