The Nationalist Opposition has tabled another draft bill aimed at protecting local journalists from SLAPP suits.

A SLAPP lawsuit is when entities shop around for foreign jurisdictions to bring lawsuits against individual or media companies worth exorbitant financial damages in an attempt to silence and intimidate. The legal fees associated in fighting such a lawsuit are enough to force an individual or media company to back down.

The draft bill was presented by Opposition Leader Adrian Delia, Deputy PN Leader David Agius, MPs Jason Azzopardi and Therese Comodini Cachia, and PN Whip Robert Cutajar.

In a statement, the PN said that rampant cases of corruption by the Labour administration have eaten away at the rule of law in Malta. Journalism, the independent media and freedom of expression are an essential pillar of a functioning democracy and were crucial in exposing cases of corruption. However, the media is under threat of SLAPP suits.

A number of entities and officials are using SLAPP to threaten media houses into silence, especially after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, the PN said.  

“The PN wants this to end with immediate effect and for litigation to be used instead to fight back the attacks on people’s right to information. Maltese journalists need the highest level of protection and legislators have a duty to see that we have the best laws in this regard.” The government is doing nothing to protect journalists, the party said, adding that it had shot down another proposal at introducing an anti-SLAPP law in 2018.