Updated 1220
PN Casual Elections Bring New Faces and Parliamentary Returns: The Nationalist Party’s casual elections filled seven parliamentary seats vacated by candidates elected on multiple districts. Newcomers Andrew Agius, John Baptist Camilleri and George Vital Zammit secured seats, while Stanley Zammit, Graziella Attard Previ and Graham Bencini returned to Parliament. Ian Vassallo also won a seat. Former MPs Charles Azzopardi and Albert Buttigieg were unsuccessful. Following the completion of casual elections for both major parties, the gender corrective mechanism added 12 women MPs—six each for Labour and the PN. (The Malta Independent)
Malta Appoints Two New Magistrates Following Constitutional Selection Process: Myriam Spiteri Debono has appointed two new magistrates following a public call issued in April by former justice minister Jonathan Attard. Natalino Caruana De Brincat and Renata Farrugia were selected to serve in the inferior courts after a constitutional selection process overseen by the judicial appointments committee. From 17 applicants, shortlisted candidates were twice submitted to the president, who chose the two appointees from separate lists. The process concluded with the completion of recruitment for two magistrate posts, with the president thanking the committee and congratulating the new appointees. (Newsbook)
Caravaggio Centre at St John’s Co-Cathedral Wins International Award for Digital Innovation: The Caravaggio Centre at the St John’s Co-Cathedral has received a prestigious international award recognising excellence in digital interpretation of Caravaggio’s The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. The project was shortlisted alongside major museums from countries including Qatar and the Netherlands, highlighting its global standing. The centre was praised for its innovative use of high-resolution imaging and advanced technologies such as X-ray, infrared and ultraviolet scanning, which allow visitors to explore the artwork’s detail, technique and historical context in depth. (TVM News)
Morning Briefing
Chamber of Advocates files protest over alleged prison surveillance
The Chamber of Advocates has filed a judicial protest against the Prime Minister and several government officials over allegations that privileged communications between lawyers and their clients were monitored and recorded at the Corradino Correctional Facility. In a statement, the Chamber said it received a complaint on 4 June indicating that a warrant signed by the then Home Affairs Minister in January 2021 allegedly authorised the installation of listening devices in prison visitors’ rooms. These facilities are used by inmates to meet both family members and legal representatives. The Chamber expressed serious concern over what it described as a breach of legal professional privilege, a fundamental principle safeguarding confidential communications between lawyers and their clients. It said conversations were allegedly monitored and recorded by a state institution. (Times of Malta)
Government sets economic and quality-of-life targets for legislature
Government has unveiled a series of economic and social targets aimed at improving quality of life by 25% during the current legislature while maintaining annual economic growth of 4%. Addressing a meeting with social partners at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD), Prime Minister Robert Abela said the strategy seeks to balance economic expansion with social progress. Among the targets announced are reducing public debt to 40% of GDP by 2030, maintaining unemployment at around 3%, and increasing the contribution of high-value sectors to two-thirds of the economy. Government also aims to increase the use of artificial intelligence among businesses to 40% and elevate Malta into the EU’s “strong innovators” category. Additional goals include increasing renewable energy use to 25%, reducing early school leaving below EU targets, raising graduate rates above 50%, and improving Gozo’s connectivity. Progress will be measured through a new Wellbeing Index covering areas such as health, housing, education and environmental quality. (Maltatoday)
Job vacancies exceed 10,000 in first quarter of 2026
More than 10,000 job vacancies were recorded in Malta during the first quarter of 2026, according to new figures published by the National Statistics Office (NSO). The data shows that 10,022 vacancies were registered among enterprises employing one or more workers, representing a 13.4% increase compared to the same period last year. The wholesale and retail trade, transportation and storage, accommodation and food services sector accounted for the largest share of vacancies, with 3,143 positions available. This sector also recorded the biggest annual increase, adding 688 vacancies over the first quarter of 2025. Professional, scientific, technical, administrative and support services registered the second-largest increase, with 512 additional vacancies. Together, these sectors accounted for more than 60% of all vacancies recorded during the quarter. Meanwhile, real estate activities recorded the lowest share of vacancies at just 1.6% of the total, highlighting significant differences in labour demand across economic sectors. (The Malta Independent)
