Culture Minister Mario de Marco has made a case for the acceptance of political satire, saying discussions should start to introduce more spontaneity in Malta’s 485-year-old carnival tradition.

A law enacted in 1936 effectively banned political satire in Malta, which kept carnival organisers back from creating floats caricaturising politicians.

“We have to learn how to accept political satire, starting with us politicians. I have no problem starting discussions on this,” Dr de Marco told a press conference launching this year’s carnival activities.

His call comes amid a call for more spontaneity in Malta’s traditional carnival, which is a showcase of creativity andinnovativeness.

The president of the Għaqda Parteċipanti Karnival, Jason Busuttil, said carnival enthusiasts this year encountered numerous problems which forced them to start working on their floats in mid-October rather than June.

Until then, enthusiasts were unsure whether carnival would be held in Valletta due to ongoing regeneration works and the government had yet not issued a call for applications for the construction of floats.

For several years, enthusiasts have also been facing problems with the spaces allocated to them to build the floats.

Dr de Marco said the government had allocated €700,000 in this year’s Budget for the creation of a carnival village.

He said a site had been earmarked in Kordin to make 22 warehouses available to carnival enthusiasts. He did not give more details on this project.

Carnival activities this year will kick off on February 17 and will run through till February 21, with a grand finale in St Anne Street.

Due to the regeneration of the entrance to Valletta, the route for this year’s carnival will revert back to the old route used in the past.

Some float dimensions had to be amended to allow for freer manoeuvring through narrower streets, while floats accompanied by dancing troupes will tour the city through Merchants and Republic streets.

The dancing competitions, usually held in Freedom Square, and which last year were held next to the Tritons Fountain, will be held at the Granaries in Floriana and St George’s Square in Valletta.

Along with Valletta and Floriana, carnival activities are also being held in seven other villages and Gozo.

For the first time, a grotesque mark created by local carnival enthusiast Henry Caruana will travel to Viareggio in Italy to participate in the carnival there.

Highlights of Carnival 2012

February 17
6 p.m. – Dancing competition and defilé in the Carnival arena at the Floriana Granaries followed by a parade along Republic Street, Valletta with the participation of grotesque masks.

February 18
9.15 a.m. – Parade along Republic Street, Valletta.
9.30-11.30 a.m. – Children’s dance programme and defilé in the Carnival Arena at the Floriana Granaries.
11.30 a.m. – Defilé from Valletta Tritons Fountain area, Republic Street, St John Street and Merchants Street.
3.30-6 p.m. – Dance show and defilé in St George’s Square, Valletta.
4 p.m. – Defilé in Valletta with the participation of the King Carnival float, triumphal floats and company floats.
6.30 p.m. – Carnival by night – live bands, street parades and street party.

February 19
1 p.m. – Grand defilé around the FlorianaGranaries.
1 p.m. – Parade along Republic Street, Valletta, proceeds to the Granaries, Floriana.

February 20
10.30 a.m.-1 p.m. – Carnival band parade along the main streets of Valletta,followed by dancing in St George’sSquare.
5 p.m. – Parade along Republic Street, Valletta, proceeds to the Granaries, Floriana.

February 21
10.30 a.m.-1p.m. – Carnival band parade along the main streets of Valletta, followed by dancing in St George’s Square.
4.30-6 p.m. – Dance competition in Carnival Arena at the Floriana Granaries.
6 p.m. – Grand finale in St Anne’s Street,Floriana.