We have been living under an illusion for over 70 years where people believed that political satire is prohibited at law, when it is not, announced Tourism, Culture and the Environment Minister Mario de Marco, at a press conference yesterday.

At another press conference on Saturday 4 February, when details of the programme for Carnival 2012 were given, Dr de Marco had called for more improvisation and said it is high time that the element of political satire was reintroduced to Carnival, and that he intends to discuss the matter with a view to making the necessary legislative changes in the near future.

Such a move would be in line with initiatives taken over the past weeks, particularly those regarding the new self-classification rules for stage productions and films.

Yesterday afternoon, at the height of Carnival celebrations, Dr de Marco announced that following studies carried out by the Attorney General, it is now clear that there has never been any law banning political satire during Carnival, or any other event.

He added that political satire reflects the maturity of society. In reality, political satire exists all year round, on television, during Christmas pantomimes and even at the Nadur Carnival, but not during official Carnival activities. Expressing his opinion on the matter, Dr de Marco remarked that he felt society was mature enough to be able to take a dose of people poking fun at one another, politicians included.

The only reference to political satire in official documentation is a police notice of 1935 that said: “No one shall carry emblems, flags or other signs relating to foreign political questions, or by any masquerade or other allusions to the same.”

While making it clear there is nothing at law prohibiting satire, he called for proportion while he looks forward to political satire in the near future. Discussions are to take place with Għaqda Parteċipanti tal-Karnival, because balance is very important.

Jason Busuttil, chairperson of the organisation, said in comments to The Malta Independent, they welcome the announcement and invitation for talks with open arms. However, Mr Busuttil is of the opinion that political satire is to be reintroduced gradually so that Carnival does not lose its identity. He suggests that another category is opened for next year’s Carnival, and this will focus on satire.

The fact that political satire is permissible at law, is not news to Mr Busuttil because Carnival participants were aware of this but it just was not allowed. The only prohibition is reference to religion and the armed forces – something that is followed worldwide.

“This is a plus for Maltese Carnival,” he said. “It is something that has been called for quite a while and will be happening.”

As the law currently stands, Carnival activities are prevented from satirising religion and the armed forces – all of which are off-limits, but public figures who have achieved fame or notoriety, including politicians, are technically, and as far as the law is concerned, fair game.

Meanwhile though, regulations issued by the Malta Council for Culture and the Arts state: “It is not permissible for themes to make reference to religious, partisan, pornographic, and political subjects, and any other subject as per the regulations issued by the Commissioner of Police, and/or by the same organisation.”

Breach of these regulations is subject to a fine of €300. The MCCA may also take further measures against participants, including banning the item from participating in Carnival.

Historical reference

to political satire

Mario Azzopardi, a well-known literary figure and head of the Drama Unit, was pleasantly surprised, when contacted about the announcement yesterday. Following some research, he pointed out that in his Master’s thesis, he had quoted Herbet Ganado’s Rajt Malta Tinbidel Volume I, who wrote that political satire existed till the late 50s and at the time it was mainly against Strickland.

Meanwhile, historian Henry Frendo had written in his book Party Politics in a Fortress Colony – The Maltese Experience 1979, that Burlesque Political Carnival existed in 1888. At the time it was mainly directed at Sigismondo Savono and it had cost him the election.

There are existing laws

that need to be looked at

Cartoonist Gorg Mallia too was surprised by the announcement because he has always been under the impression, perpetuated by a number of happenings, that political satire was not allowed during Carnival.

Till a few years ago, he said a prominent politician had said that the Maltese are not yet ready to have satire during Carnival. The MCCA refers to what seem to be non-existent regulations about satire. Plus, we’ve had arrests in the past few years of masked youths satirising religious figures... and though they might have been tried under different laws, the fact remains that going a bit overboard was frowned upon by all too conservative authorities.

His reaction to the announcement was very positive.

“It is a pity that the axiom of no satire was perpetuated throughout the years, and that the exercise carried out by the AG was not suggested years ago,” he said. “Perhaps it was in the interest of politicians not to have the laws looked at? In any case, I’m glad that Dr de Marco, a person who has my full respect because of his genuine approach to culture, has finally put the myth to rest.”

He notes there have been challenges to it during Carnival by those who defied what was believed to be the law and went the extra mile to satirise people in power (be it political, religious, etc). Plus, cartoonists have been testing the case for years, although libel laws are also quite stringent and any satire is susceptible to them, so it is not a case of everything goes.

Should political satire be limited?

“No, it shouldn’t be – but it is, by other existing laws that might also need to be looked at by our politicians... and not just Dr de Marco, because they are not all within his remit.”