'Together, we’ll stop them': second national protest on Budget Day
On October 27, civil society will march from Valletta courts to parliament
NGOs are urging civil society to join a second national protest against the proposed planning reforms in Valletta on Budget Day.
Called Together, we’ll stop them!, this second Ġustizzja għal Artna protest will be held on October 27 at 5.30pm and will leave from in front of the law courts. Demonstrators will march towards parliament, where the government will be announcing its financial plans for 2026.
"It is neither our choice nor our pleasure to take to the streets, but we have no other option than to fend off this massive threat to our quality of life and democracy.
"We have repeatedly stated that we would much rather sit around a table to discuss the urgent planning and environmental reforms our country needs. However, despite the people’s cry for justice, including the thousands who took to the streets on October 4, Prime Minister Robert Abela continues to refuse to listen," the organisers said on Monday morning.
Over 70 organisations, 163 academics and various political parties had endorsed the first Ġustizzja għal Artna national protest on October 4.
The campaign is seeking to have Bills 143 and 144 withdrawn from parliament and reform plans opened to broad consultation.
Bills 143 and 144 were quietly tabled in parliament last July, but plans to fast-track them into law ran into major public opposition and forced the government to pledge to revise them.
Work to revise one of the two bills, Bill 144, is reportedly nearing completion, but reform of the second, more controversial Bill 143 remains ongoing.
Activists, academics and student organisations say the bills should be scrapped altogether.
On Monday, the campaign organisers said the "so-called planning reform is a Damocles’ sword hanging over the people’s heads".
They are specifically holding the protest on Budget Day to ensure their message is clear: "this is not business as usual".
"The two planning bills and three legal notices pose an imminent threat to our most cherished places, our communities, social justice, and democracy.
"They would dismantle all existing protections against unbridled construction by rendering planning regulations ineffective and placing full control in the hands of the corrupt Planning Authority. They would also severely undermine the public’s right to effectively appeal illegal decisions, and strip the Court of its power to revoke illegal permits.
"Additionally, the legal notices would grant a blanket amnesty for all sorts of illegalities committed up to last year, with no limits on type, size, or location," the organisers said.
They believe that people have the power to stop the assault on their quality of life and that people themselves are the last line of defence against the greed of developers.
While reiterating their call on Abela to immediately withdraw the proposed laws, they also called on the public to intensify this fight "against the bullies of this country - those who believe that money gives them the right to trample over the common citizen".
"On October 27, we’ll show once again that we refuse to live under the reign of developers. Together, we’ll stop them."
The organisers are BirdLife Malta, Din l-Art Ħelwa, Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent, Għawdix, Moviment Graffitti, Nature Trust – FEE Malta, Ramblers Association and Wirt Għawdex.