Protestors took to Valletta on Wednesday evening, gathering in front of Parliament to continue their call for justice and for those who "robbed the country of its democracy" to end up in handcuffs.

The protest, the first since Robert Abela became Malta's 14th Prime Minister, was called after it emerged that former Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi - who has been the subject of several scandals and resigned in the midst of a political crisis which gripped the country last November - had been given a secret €80,000 a year consultancy contract with the Malta Tourism Authority two weeks after his resignation and also chosen to head Malta's delegation for the OSCE on Monday.

The choice for him to head the delegation was rescinded on Monday night, and Mizzi's contract with the MTA was revoked on Tuesday.

Activists however said that the damage had been done and that justice would only be done once Mizzi was investigated and prosecuted.

A sizeable crowd, although not as large as previous protests, gathered in Valletta, shouting cries for justice and "jail, jail, jail" whenever the government was mentioned.

The less than complimentary calls were not only reserved for Muscat and the government: PN MPs including party leaders Adrian Delia emerged after the speeches had concluded to chants of "Mafia, Mafia" directed specifically at Delia.

The protest saw three interventions.

Activist Julian Delia also addressed the crowd with a poem which centered on Girgenti Palace and the party that the Prime Minister had hosted there, noting that from celebration back then, he hoped that they were now enjoying the hot water they had gotten themselves into.

Mark Anthony Sammut's speech focused namely on how Abela's government is exactly the same as that of his predecessor Joseph Muscat - whose very name elicited boos from the crowd - and that Muscat, Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi, Adrian Hillmann, Neville Gafa, Karl Cini, and Brian Tonna should be investigated and charged in court.

 

Blogger Manuel Delia also addressed the crowd. He said that the Prime Minister and the Speaker wanted silence to reign, noting that the "mafia needs silence". He said that they would return, and keep returning until justice is done and those who "robbed the country of its democracy are in handcuffs".

 

Photos: Michael Camilleri