The government has hinted that it is bowing to pressure to squeeze all 75 monti stalls into Ordnance Street and curb the controversial spillover across the street beside Valletta’s new parliament building and old theatre ruins.

“If it is physically possible to place all the stalls in Ordnance Street I will do so to avoid any stalls spreading out... I’m already working on this but it involves negotiations with every single market hawker,” Small Businesses Minister Chris Cardona told The Sunday Times of Malta.

This marks a change of heart after a nationwide uproar against the decision to allow the tatty market stalls to take ‘pride of place’ at the capital city’s elegant new entrance designed by acclaimed architect Renzo Piano.

Mr Piano’s lead architect Antonio Belvedere described the decision to place the stalls between the majestic parliament building and Pjazza Teatru Rjal as “shameful”. Mr Belvedere said the decision was akin to “making a cake, then spitting on it”.

More in The Sunday Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com Premium.

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