This update covers developments relating to the freedoms of expression, association and peaceful assembly from June 2025 to October 2025.
GENERAL
Malta recognises Palestinian statehood
On 22nd September 2025, the Prime Minister’s Office announced that Malta formally recognises the Palestinian state and the Prime Minister reiterated it at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on 26th September 2025, adding Malta to a list of other countries making the same move that week. Several pro-Palestinian protests took place in 2024 and 2025 (see below) in Malta, some of them demanding, among others, the recognition of the Palestinian statehood. Sixteen NGOs and academics welcomed this recognition. On 6th October 2025, the Palestinian flag was raised outside the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Swieqi, in a ceremony attended by the Prime Minister and government officials, to mark this formal recognition.
New constitutional rights proposed
On 5th June 2025, the Nationalist Party presented a bill to include the right to live in a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the Constitution, as one of the fundamental rights of the individual. Other amendments would expand the definition of the word “environment” to include air, water, land, ecosystems, and all elements that form part of it, but also social conditions, aesthetic coherence, and cultural attributes. Additionally, courts would not require a personal interest to open a constitutional case on the environment, allowing an easier public scrutiny by citizens and CSOs. On 2nd October 2025, the bill failed to pass in Parliament, receiving 32 votes in favour and 40 votes against it. Environment Minister Miriam Dalli had described the proposal as "immature and irresponsible". The Prime Minister had derailed the bill by using the fictitious example of a foreigner living in Malta, who was bothered by the village festa and would seek constitutional redress to stop it on the grounds of his right to a healthy environment. Former ONE News editor publicly expressed his shock at the use of this divisive example. Questioned about this example, the Prime Minister admitted he could have used other examples, like the NGO Repubblika, which had welcomed the bill.
In what has been described as a “bid to outmanoeuvre” this proposal, the government has published a Green Paper and opened a public consultation on the country’s environmental legislation. The Prime Minister also announced that the government would seek to enshrine protection of traditions and pastimes in the Constitution, suggesting that the National Party’s proposal is a threat to hobbyists, hunters, and those who engage in sports.
ASSOCIATION
Students For Liberty Malta’s petition against EU Chat Control proposal
On 23rd September 2025, Students For Liberty Malta submitted a petition urging the Maltese government to take a stance against the Chat Control proposal by the EU (officially called “Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules to prevent and combat child sexual abuse”). Students For Liberty denounces that the proposal poses risks to the fundamental right to privacy as enshrined in EU and Maltese law and creates a double standard, as certain public officials can exempt themselves from this law. The petition reached 1,400 signatures in just two weeks and MEP Peter Agius has voiced his support for the parliamentary petition.
Petitions: House Speaker calls on the authorities to respond promptly to requests for information
On 29th September 2025, Parliament Speaker Anġlu Farrugia issued a ruling regarding requests for information from ministries and departments made by the Standing Committee on Petitions. This ruling aimed at improving the way in which public petitions are handled after repeated complaints that requests for information were ignored.
The Speaker explained that there have been situations in which the Standing Committee on Petitions writes to ministries or departments for information on a petition, but receives no answer. He thus looked for inspiration in the practices of the UK Parliament, where a petition with 10,000 signatures receives a government response and a petition with 100,000 signatures may be considered for debate in Parliament. Scaled to Malta’s population, the Speaker concluded that a petition reaching 800 signatures should be considered for debate in Parliament. The Speaker also called on to ministries and departments to respond promptly to requests in order to maintain public trust in Parliament, and suggested that the 2019 guidelines on this matter be reviewed.
ASSEMBLY
Civil society denounce planning bills as a threat to the environment and democracy
On 23rd July 2025, the government tabled two main bills and several legal notices that aim to reform Malta’s planning system. Bill 143 (2025) aims at amending the Development Planning Act to give more discretionary power to the Planning Authority to override or bypass existing planning documents, and Bill 144 (2025), which amends the Environment and Planning Review Tribunal Act. It affects how appeals are handled and limits the time and scope of what can be challenged.
In the weeks that followed, these bills met heavy opposition. First, it was denounced that no public consultation was launched on the planning reform bills before being tabled. According to Planning Minister Clint Camilleri and Planning Authority CEO Johann Buttigieg, the reason was to avoid land speculation.
On 28th July 2025, a number of organisations held a press conference in front of Parliament to call for the immediate withdrawal of the two bills, denouncing them as “highly dangerous” and representing “a wishlist dictated by developers”. The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry joined these criticisms.
On 5th September 2025, several environmental NGOs launched the campaign “Ġustizzja għal Artna” (“Justice for Our Land”), a campaign calling for the withdrawal of the proposals and for a fresh approach that involves genuine consultation. Among the objections listed are that planning decisions would no longer need to take environmental considerations into account, that the right to appeal is restricted and that illegal developments are either regularised or given a concession. More than a hundred university academics endorsed the demands of this campaign as well as nineteen student organisations.
If passed, these laws will silence the voices of citizens. Instead of fair and transparent processes, the government is proposing measures that punish individuals who raise legitimate concerns, exposing them to fines and court action.
- Malta Women’s Lobby
On 15th September 2025, activists dressed as the Grim Reaper gathered outside the Parliament in Valletta to protest the new planning laws, greed and corruption.
On 4th October 2025, a large crowd marched through the streets of Valletta. If the government intention was to quietly table these bills on a Friday during summer, it didn’t work as planned: civil society reacted strongly and in a coordonated and sustained manner. The government then opened the bills up for public consultation and announced that several changes are being made to them. On 10th October 2025, the Ġustizzja għal Artna campaign sent a letter to the prime minister urging him to issue a White Paper. Further protests are planned.
Pro-Palestinian protests
On 29th July 2025, a march was held in Valletta to demand the condemnation of Israel for its actions in Gaza and a call for its Association Agreement with the EU to be cancelled; the prohibition of Malta-flagged ships from transporting weapons or military material to Israel and the recognition of the State of Palestine. The following organisations had joined the Embassy of Palestine in Malta: Moviment Graffitti, Ġustizzja għall-Palestina, the Lebanese Advocates, the Watermelon Warriors and Youth for Palestine.
On 8th August 2025, activists gathered outside the Maltese Parliament and projected images from Gaza next to the building. They demand a strong condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the recognition of the State of Palestine.
On 24th August 2025, at the call of various organisations, people protested in front of the Hilton Hotel in Saint Julian’s against an Israeli-affiliated medical conference taking place there, accusing the organisers and Maltese authorities of complicity in genocide and human rights violations in Gaza.
On 2nd October 2025, people staged a protest in front of the Parliament in Valletta following the interception by Israeli forces of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Demonstrators wanted to show solidarity with the humanitarian convoy and denounce the violation of international law and of the right to deliver humanitarian aid.
LGBTQIA+ protest and Prides
On 6th September 2025, the fourth edition of the Gozo Pride took place in Victoria, on Gozo Island, to celebrate LGBTQIA+ people and protest against discrimination. The Pride was sponsored in part by the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, the Human Rights Directorate, and the Office of the Prime Minister. Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri and the Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality participated in the demonstration.
On 11th September 2025, Malta Gay Rights Movement activists interrupted a speech by the Equality Parliamentary Secretary at the opening of a Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Unit conference. The activists protested the detention of Angoua Abdu, an LGBTQI+ asylum seeker held at the Safi detention centre after his asylum request was rejected. The decision was appealed based on his sexual orientation. Following this protest, the International Protection Agency agreed to release Angoua Abdu and reopen his case.
On 13th September 2025, hundreds of people participated in the Valletta Pride. Prime Minister Robert Abela and opposition leader Alex Borg also participated.
Abortion protests following condemnation of a woman who had an abortion
In July 2025, a 28-year-old woman was handed a suspended 22-month jail sentence after she pleaded guilty to having an abortion in November 2024. The woman probably bought abortion pills from the internet.
The decision has been criticised by civil society organisations such as the Voice for Choice Coalition and the Malta Women’s Lobby. According to them, the State has failed to repeal the law and decriminalise abortion, and women are charged after seeking medical attention. According to the Prime Minister, the government is not considering introducing a right to abortion but might change the Professional Secrecy Act to ensure that doctors don’t report women seeking post-abortion medical care without their explicit consent.
On 27th September 2025, pro-choice activists gathered outside the court in Valletta as part of the annual pro-choice rally to demand the decriminalisation of abortion. Representatives of Voice For Choice Coalition, lawyers, members of the NGO Men Against Violence, Academics For Choice, and the political party ADPD participated in the demonstration.
EXPRESSION
Intimidation of journalists
On 16th June 2025, a man stormed into the offices of the news outlet SideStreet, angrily demanding the removal of footage captured at Armier Bay showing a relative screaming a racial slur. Unsure if the man was armed and concerned for their safety, the editorial team temporarily archived the contentious post. The news outlet filed a police report and later restored the post.
The Institute of Maltese Journalists condemned the threats of physical violence, emphasising that such intimidation tactics towards journalists should “never be normalised.” The NGO Repubblika and the media outlet Lovin Malta joined in condemning the acts of intimidation.
Man who threatened pro-choice protesters is convicted of hate speech
On 15th June 2019, during a peaceful demonstration for abortion, two men threatened the protesters and made “particularly violent and aggressive” comments and incited violence against them. Six women filed a police report. The police conducted an investigation and charged both men with hate speech. One man pleaded guilty and issued a public apology. The other defied court orders and on 2nd October 2025, he was handed a six month effective prison sentence suspended for two years. The Voice for Choice Coalition welcomed the decision.