President would have final say in government’s chief justice anti-deadlock plans
The President would have the final say on appointing a chief justice in cases of deadlock under the government’s proposal, justice minister Jonathan Attard has revealed.
Parliament would first attempt to secure a two-thirds majority but if that fails, the final decision would lie with the head of state. The minister said he would also like the outgoing chief justice to be consulted before the process begins. Parliament would first attempt to secure a two-thirds majority. If this fails, the final decision would rest with the President.
His plan differs from that proposed by the Nationalist Party, who want a specialised high-level committee appointed to select a suitable candidate for chief justice if multiple parliamentary votes fail to yield a 2/3 majority.
Transport Malta seeks private car parks to open doors to public after hours
Transport Malta is reaching out to private businesses to unlock their car parks for public use when they would otherwise sit empty.
The authority has issued a Preliminary Market Consultation (PMC), a non-binding exercise aimed at gauging interest from commercial operators and understanding what participation models might be feasible.
The consultation targets a wide range of businesses, including retail centres, supermarkets, hotels, office buildings, entertainment venues, and mixed-use developments.
The initiative follows a broader government push to tackle the islands’ traffic and parking problems without necessarily building new infrastructure. Earlier proposals from Transport Minister Chris Bonett included the use of public buildings, starting with Transport Malta’s own premises, for public parking outside office hours. The new PMC appears to extend that logic to the private sector.
Crowds packed the streets of St Julian’s for annual St Patrick’s Day celebration
Crowds gathered in St Julian’s on Tuesday to celebrate the Irish holiday of St Patrick’s Day, sporting green clothing and, in many cases, as tradition dictates, enjoying a pint of Guinness.
Thousands of revellers remained undeterred by the cloudy and windy conditions, heading to Spinola to celebrate the most famous of Ireland’s trio of patron saints. Makeshift bars lined the road while music blared from at least four different DJ sets along different parts of the street. Curiously, one of the few Irish pubs in the area, the Dubliner, remained closed.
St Julian’s mayor Guido Dalli said that while he was aware residents were not keen on the annual celebration, it was “wonderful to see so many people come together and enjoy each other’s company”. While a highlight for partygoers, St Patrick’s Day has proven to be a contentious issue for local authorities in the area over the years amid concerns over traffic diversions – with this year no exception.
