LIVE BLOG: Following Joseph Muscat’s National Resignation Announcement, Angry Protesters Descend Onto Valletta Once More
It’s been a couple of weeks’ worth of governmental resignations, shocking revelations and protests in Malta… and it’s not looking like the situation will subside anytime soon.
Following Joseph Muscat’s national announcement that’d be resigning as Prime Minister in January, people were furious that what they were demanding has been delayed by weeks, arguing that it will only muddy the waters when it comes to the investigations into corruption… and the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia.
Today, a two-in-one protest will be happening at 4pm. Welcome to our live blog, which will be breaking down this evening’s events all in one place.
4:32pm – Joseph Muscat and his entire Parliamentary Group are blocked from leaving Valletta by protesters
4:04pm – PN walks out of Parliament as fake cash is thrown on the Parliamentary floor
Things got heated in Parliament from the get go, with Opposition Leader Adrian Delia announcing that the PN will be refusing to participate in Parliament until Muscat remains in power.
“The Opposition will be leaving immediately and will not participate in Parliamentary work as long as Joseph Muscat remains in the post of Prime Minister,” Opposition Leader Adrian Leader announced.
While this was happening, people were heard yelling Mafia and fake money was thrown from the strangers galley onto the Parliamentary floor.
4:00pm – Clips sent in to Lovin Malta show that commotion has already kicked off in front of Parliament, despite a large number of police barriers placed all over Freedom Square.
In fact, the cramped space seems to only be exasperating the situation.
2:00pm – Valletta braces itself for this evening’s protest
Police barriers have filled the entirety of Freedom Square, limiting access in, out and around the area in front of Parliament like never before.
Barriers have been placed in a number of different formations and in multiple layers, and Lovin Malta was also informed by this newsroom that some shops in the square were advised by police to close by 3pm.
Heavy police (and barrier) presence was also spotted in Castille, where the protest is planned to move at 6pm.
