Latest update- 1745
Times of Malta says that a recently-formed political party has launched a petition in a bid to force a referendum on the new cannabis law approved by parliament on Tuesday.
MaltaToday says that a criminal investigation should be opened into the misuse of public funds regarding the Vitals concession, Nationalist MP Adrian Delia said.
Newsbook says that the EU has given Malta the green light to apply for funding to subsidise at least half a €400 million gas pipeline investment, on condition that no entities connected to fraud, corruption and conduct related to a criminal organisation benefit.
TVM says that the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses, MUMN, said it is seriously concerned abut the large number of nurses who are resigning from the public service.
Updated 1300 – Mid-Day Briefing
Malta to be allowed to apply for EU funding for gas pipeline: After a tripartite agreement at EU level between the major European institutions, Malta will be allowed to apply for EU funding for a proposed gas pipeline. However, a safeguard has been included to ensure that no funds may “directly or indirectly” flow to anyone involved in criminal activity. The Times of Malta reports that according to its sources, the reference to criminal activity is built in as a safeguard to try to prevent the Electrogas consortium or any of its shareholders from benefitting from the pipeline funding. Although Malta is set to go ahead with its application for the funding, there is no guarantee the Commission will agree to it.
Roberta Metsola in EP Presidency boost after Socialists pave way: Incumbent European Parliament President David Sassoli declared that he will not run for re-election in January, and neither will socialists group S&D present any candidate for the presidency. In a meeting of MEPs yesterday evening, Sassoli said that he did not “want to destroy the European front” represented by the parliament’s largest political blocs. International outlets reported that Socialists failed to find a common candidate which would also garner the support of greens. Without a Socialists candidate, Maltese MEP Metsola, the EPP’s sole candidate, is expected to have a better possibility to win the final vote in January.
Education Minister being investigated criminally – PN: A criminal investigation against Justyne Caruana has commenced, Opposition leader Bernard Grech said in a statement today. The PN leader said that after the PM publicly defended the minister who awarded a contract of €15,000 to a friend, there has now also been confirmation that the police opened a criminal investigation against minister Caruana. “This investigation should have started as soon as the facts were revealed on the media,” he added. This delay confirms the irresponsibility on the Prime Minister’s side, particularly on defending Caruana as well as having yet to remove her from her position. The PM insisted that the Standards Commissioner’s report “is not conclusive” and the matter now rests with parliament’s ethics committee.
Covid-19 Update: 168 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Wednesday, with 110 recovering. There are currently 1464 active cases, 23 of whom in hospital, 3 in ITU. Meanwhile, more than one million doses of anti-Covid vaccines have been given, including booster jabs.
Morning Briefing
Cannabis use becomes legal after historic vote
The Maltese parliament has approved a cannabis law that allow users to make use of the drug. Malta becomes the first country in Europe to regulate recreational cannabis use. PL MPs voted unanimously in favour of the bill, while the Opposition voted against. During the past weesks, scores of NGOs expressed opposition to the bill or requested further safeguards. The bill will become law once it is signed by the President of the Republic. (Times of Malta)
PM says its too early to decide on Education Minister
Prime Minister Robert Abela has so far defended Education Minister Justyne Caruana following the publication of a damning report on the provision of a direct order to a close friend of hers. Abela said that he will await the final verdict from parliament’s ethics committee before taking any action on Education Minister Justyne Caruana. The PM insisted that the Standards Commissioner’s report “is not conclusive” and the matter now rests with parliament’s ethics committee. PN leader Bernard Grech said that “it has been four days since it became known that the Commissioner for Standards’ investigation found that Justyne Caruana had violated the Code of Ethics and possibly the Criminal Code. And we’ve known about the case for almost a year… Despite all this, Robert Abela has neither spoken nor taken action against the Minister of Education”. (Maltatoday)
Covid-19 Update: A total of 100 new daily cases were reported today while 90 people recovered. 20 people are being treated in hospital, 2 of whom are in the ITU.
