Prime Minister Robert Abela said that a legal amendment will be tabled in Parliament later today, which is to address free speech concerns following several police reports filed by River of Love pastor Gordon Manche over satirical comments made on him.

Abela spoke to journalists on Monday, revealing that the amendment is being finalised, and will be tabled in Parliament for a first reading today, to also be discussed at a later stage in Cabinet. The final proposal will then be presented to Parliament, he said.

River of Love pastor Gordon Manché has asked the police to take action against three artists who made satirical comments about him on social media, these being comedians Matthew Bonanno and Daniel Xuereb and Teatru Malta Artistic Director Sean Buhagiar.

Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri as well as Culture Minister Owen Bonnici had both said that they would be looking into amendments to the law to address free speech concerns.

“We cannot let what is happening to continue,” Abela continued. He said that government cannot permit that freedom of speech is suppressed.

“I believe in freedom of expression but naturally, whoever makes certain comments cannot expect that there wouldn’t be certain reactions,” Abela said.

He continued that he believes in a legislative change to leave people free to express their opinions.

Speaking on Malta’s abstention on a vote on radical reforms to the EU’s migration and asylum laws, Abela said that there were points in the pact which did not satisfy government, such as flexibility.

Abela was asked about promises he made on 1 May, which was to introduce planning reforms to freeze developments that were subject to an appeal.

He said that discussions are ongoing, due to a required amendment to the main laws governing planning, which will “definitely” be introduced this year.