New 'National Anthem Day' to be enshrined in the constitution

A new national day to celebrate the national anthem will be enshrined in the constitution, according to a bill that appears to have the support of both main parties.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici proposed December 27, which was the day  L-Innu Malti, composed by Robert Samut and penned by Dun Karm Psaila, was first played in public.

Speaking in parliament, Bonnici said the anthem “unites us as a country” and “gives us goosebumps.” 

Another constitutional change will enshrine Valletta as Malta's national capital.  Sources say the government wants to pass the bill before Parliament’s Christmas recess – likely to be on December 16.

The national anthem was written as a prayer and expresses the Maltese people's request for guidance, peace, protection and unity.

It has some controversy because of a line that says: “On those who colonise it (Malta), sovereign God, bestow understanding” – a line written at a time when Malta was ruled by the British.

Malta gained independence in 1964, over 40 years after Dun Karm wrote the words of the prayer.

“Many say this no longer makes sense in today’s context, but you shouldn’t change a literary text. That line should instead remind us of how far we have come,” Bonnici said.

Addressing the second portion of the constitutional change, enshrining Valletta as the capital in the Constitution, Bonnici praised the city as “Malta’s beating heart”.

“What nobler gesture is there for our city than giving it a place in the highest law in the land?” he said.

Bonnici said in recent years Valletta has transformed from a “cemetery” in the evenings to a city “full of life, commerce, culture and history”.

PN culture shadow minister Julie Zahra said the opposition was supporting the bill, but pointed out that Valletta has become a "second Paceville" under the PL government. 

Zahra said that the government should protect the residents of the city and not allow Valletta to be taken over by short lets. 

On the introduction of National Anthem Day, Zahra said that the words of the national anthem should remind the government of its responsibilities to the people.

“The anthem calls for unity, but I would like to see where that unity is in the government’s actions. They should govern for all of Malta,” she said. Zahra said the government should look at the words of the anthem and implement its message with their actions. 

The shadow minister also pointed out that many do not know the words of the national anthem. 

"Too often we see the anthem played and we see our fellow Maltese not even open their mouth to sing the anthem," she said. "We should be proud that we have our own language in which we can sing our national anthem in."

Prime Minister Robert Abela first spoke of plans to introduce a National Anthem Day in March. However, speaking on Magic FM, he seemed to rule out making December 27 a public holiday.