Watch: Activists camp outside parliament and demand planning bills are dropped
They descended on Valletta unannounced on Sunday and set up two dozen tents in which they intend to sleep for the next few nights
Updated 12.15pm
Environmental activists have set up camp outside parliament, where they will be sleeping for the next few days to pressure the government into dropping the planning reform bills for good.
They descended on Valletta unannounced on Sunday at 11am and set up two dozen tents within three minutes.
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli. Swipe for more photos.
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli. Swipe for more photos.
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli. Swipe for more photos.
Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.
Tourists and passers-by stopped by to look on and take photos as the activists chained and padlocked their tents together.
The camps were set up strategically on the eve of one of Parliament's most crucial days, as MPs will swarm the building on Monday for the highly anticipated annual budget speech.
The activists are demanding that the government completely withdraws two controversial bills (Bills 143 and 144) and a legal notice announced last summer to overhaul the planning system.
The government insists it only wants to streamline planning processes, increase efficiency and strengthen enforcement.
But activist groups, such as those behind the Kamp Ġustizzja għal Artna, oppose the reform, arguing it constitutes a "developers' coup" that weakens environmental protection and public rights.
Some pedestrians stopped by to ask about the protest. Photo: Matthew MirabelliOn Sunday, Moviment Graffitti's Andre Callus explained the group's intentions: “You won’t ignore us because we won’t let you. We’re doing this on Budget Day because it’s not business as usual".
"We have no intention to disrupt budget plans or the government’s work. We’re doing it because we had no other option after being ignored since July.”
"This morning, we are carrying out a direct action to send a clear message: we will not accept the government ignoring the people’s plea for planning and environmental justice," the group said in a statement.
"We have set up dozens of tents outside Parliament, establishing Kamp Ġustizzja għal Artna and demanding that the government immediately withdraw the planning laws that would hand all power to developers and wreak destruction across our country."
The camp has issued a public call for support, inviting citizens to join the occupation, even if only for a couple of hours or without a tent.
"Everyone is welcome to join," the group said, also encouraging the public to stop by to discuss the "threat posed to our communities".
The group has vowed to remain outside parliament "for as long as necessary" to ensure their message is heard "loud and clear".
The activists said they will remain on site for as long as it takes the government to take them seriously. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.This direct action is a precursor to a larger planned protest, Ġustizzja għal Artna: Together, We’ll Stop Them!, scheduled for Monday.
The demonstration is set to begin at 5.30pm at the Law Courts and proceed towards parliament, right on time when MPs are preparing to start listening to the hours-long budget speech.
"Too much is at stake: our most cherished places, our communities, social justice, and democracy," the activists said. "The fight to save our country from this developers’ coup will continue."
Tourists walking through the crowd of activists. Photo: Matthew MirabelliA summer of pushback
Graffiti and several other NGOs were against the bills from day one.
Key environmental and heritage groups, including Moviment Graffiti, BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, and Friends of the Earth Malta, had staged a protest outside parliament in July, when it was announced that the government had tabled the bills.
They argued the proposed laws were nothing more than a "developers' wishlist" designed to dismantle remaining environmental safeguards, strip citizens of their right to appeal planning decisions, and grant sweeping, arbitrary powers to the Planning Authority.
Those efforts culminated in a large-scale national protest in Valletta on October 4, with the slogan "Ġustizzja għal Artna: Irtirawhom Issa!" (Justice for Our Land: Withdraw Them Now!).
The protest united NGOs, residents' associations, student groups, and over 160 university academics.
Activists set up two dozen tents within three minutes. Photo: Matthew MirabelliMomentum backs Graffitti
On Sunday morning, Momentum expressed solidarity with Moviment Graffitti's protest.
"Momentum stands in full solidarity with Moviment Graffitti and the citizens camping outside parliament in their peaceful call for a fairer, better and sustainable planning legislation.
"At this critical moment, we believe Malta has a real opportunity to strengthen our planning framework so that it protects communities, respects our environment, and serves the long-term well-being of our country."
Momentum's Matthew Agius said the party remained inspired by the dedication of civil society organisations that work tirelessly for the common good.
Peaceful, organised actions such as the ongoing protest in Valletta are a powerful reminder that democracy thrives when people come together with hope, determination, and a shared vision for a better future, he added.
Following a visit to the protest, chairperson Arnold Cassola said the party "lauds the selfless efforts of the many NGOs that are fighting incessantly to save and preserve our country for future generations, from the unlimited greed of certain developers, their cronies and the politicians who are at their beck and call".