Afternoon Update
70% of Maltese oppose abortion if woman’s life not at risk – Misco survey
Almost 70% of Maltese adults oppose abortion when a woman’s life is not at risk, according to a survey that also shows broad support for the termination of a pregnancy to save the mother’s life. The survey of 805 people was carried out by Misco on behalf of the Archdiocese of Malta. More on The Times of Malta.
NAO audit finds government is not aware of the market value of all the land and property it holds
Malta’s Lands Authority has no readily available reports giving the government a snapshot of the total number of government-owned properties, as well as those in use by third parties, and vacant properties (Maltatoday).
€1.6M allocated for running of KIDS residence in Santa Venera
An agreement has been signed between the Government and the Richmond Foundation for the running of the KIDS residence in Santa Venera. The agreement involves the provision of €1.6 million over three years to Richmond in order to assist and provide specialized help, emotional support and an educational base to children with behavioral challenges between the ages of seven and ten. (TVM)
Updated 1215- Mid-Day Briefing
NGO claims Maltese authorities instructed merchant ships to ignore people in distress: Sea Eye, a rescue NGO, has claimed that Maltese authorities instructed two merchant ships to ignore 45 people in distress at sea. The organisation rescued 45 people from the Maltese search and rescue zone overnight. It said the group had been “fighting for survival on the high seas for six days”. The NGO claimed that in previous days, Malta and Italy “actively tried to prevent” the rescue of these people, with Malta instructing two merchant shops to ignore the group and “even threatening consequences.
Parliament approves Budget 2023: After a marathon session, the House of Representatives has approved the 2023 Budget after extensive debates over the past weeks. 98 votes were taken during a session lasting two and a half hours. Two resolutions on the financial votes of the President’s Office were unanimously approved. The rest of the resolutions presented by government Ministers were approved with 42 votes in favour and 34 votes against following a division. All amendments presented by Opposition spokespersons were defeated.
Malta requests €60m in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility: The European Commission has received a first payment request from Malta for €60.1 million in grants under the Recovery and Resilience Facility. Malta’s first payment request relates to 19 milestones and targets covering, among others, reforms and investments in the areas of construction and building renovation, the environment, waste management, mobility and urban planning, research and development, education, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, taxation, remote work and digitalisation.
Morning Briefing
Abortion bill clears second hurdle
The bill amending Malta’s abortion legislation was approved in its second reading in Parliament on Monday. While the Prime Minister Robert Abela insisted that the fundamental objectives of the bill are not negotiatble, amendments are expected at Committee stage. The proposed bill adds a proviso to existing legislation that the provisions criminalising abortion do not apply “when the termination of a pregnancy results from a medical intervention aimed at protecting the health of a pregnant woman suffering from a medical complication which may put her life at risk or her health in grave jeopardy. In a statement, the PN, whose MPs all voted against the abortion said that its representatives “were united under a single and strong message against the introduction of abortion in our country, and participated actively and consistently in the debate in Parliament.” At the end of the vote, a small crowd celebrated the decision. (TVM, Newsbook)
Roderick Cassar indicted over estranged wife’s murder
Roderick Cassar, the estranged husband of Bernice Cilia has been indicted over her murder after Magistrate Joseph Mifsud declared that there was enough prima facie evidence to do so. The Court yesterday heard evidence of how Cassar had vowed “revenge” in a social media post as he believed his estranged wife Bernice was having an affair with a work colleague. The Facebook post was shown to police by her work colleague prior to the murder taking place as the mother-of-two drove to work in Corradino on November 22. “Revenge is a must”, Cassar had written. (Times of Malta)
Government to push for more adoptions
The government is planning to encourage more adoptions, Family Minister Michael Falzon said, while announcing that legal changes are in the pipelines. Earlier this year, it was revealed that in the past decade, 234 children had been adopted by Maltese families, with the majority coming from foreign countries. Falzon said that currently the government is making amendments to laws related to children, after which amendments will be made to adoption laws. “Our aim is to always encourage more adoptions,” he said. After the laws regarding children are amended at the beginning of next year, he said, the government will be in a position to try and facilitate local adoptions. (The Malta Independent)
