A weekend conference of the Local Councils Association approved a motion urging better protection of mayors, vice-mayors and councillors, their families and property. The motion, moved by Hamrun mayor Luciano Busuttil and seconded by Ta’ Xbiex mayor Antoinette Vassallo, was approved unanimously.

The meeting was not attended by Nationalist mayors and vice-mayors in line with a directive issued by the Nationalist College of Councillors after Nationalist councillor Ian Micallef was not allowed to chair part of a session as was normal practice.

Association president Michael Cohen said the time for the presentation of motions had been extended by a day because of work that had accumulated, and although he had tried to explain why this was being done, there had been people who would not understand.

He said that the law lays down that it is the president who chairs such conferences, and the president has the right to delegate the vice-president for national affairs to do so in his stead.