Updated 7pm with Graffitti statement

A Graffitti protest against unbridled development interrupted the Finance Minister's delivery of the Budget 2025 speech on Monday.

Activists in the strangers' gallery donned pig masks and started chanting 'You dance to the tune of developers' soon after the minister had started his address.

The activists also threw flyers at the MPs below.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia immediately suspended the sitting, which was being transmitted live on state television.

It took security personnel a few minutes to eject the activists from the parliament building. 

The sitting was resumed after a few minutes.

It is the first time in a generation that a budget speech was interrupted by activists. 

The activists being escorted out of parliament. Photo: Jonathan Borg

Activists are increasingly becoming more vocal against over-development in Malta, with pressure increasing in recent weeks because of the proposed Villa Rosa project in St George's Bay. 

In a statement shortly after the action, Graffitti said powerful interests have seized hold of politics and other institutions.

"The consequence of this is a never-ending disaster in our environment and planning which is causing a great deal of suffering, and which is threatening our future and that of our children."

The NGO said the most basic and obvious reform in planning appeals - to ensure construction is disallowed unless there is a definitive permit – has not been implemented despite the many promises. 

In addition, the Planning Authority has thrown the rule of law out of the window and made a "mockery" of the courts when issuing permits for buildings which had been declared illegal. 

"When they know that we are right and that they have something to hide, they ignore us. They do not discuss with us, and they do not address what we call for, just as they are doing at the moment. But we are not willing to live in a developers’ dictatorship and watch our country continue to be ruined by greed. We will not let you ignore us."