It’s official: political satire is not prohibited during carnival. In fact, it never was, even though the Maltese have lived under this illusion for almost 80 years.

The bottom line is there is no law, legal notice or subsidiary legislation that in some way regulates or prohibits satire in carnival

Two weeks ago, Culture Minister Mario de Marco said he wanted to reintroduce political satire into Malta’s almost 500-year carnival tradition by reviewing a law from the 1930s which effectively banned it.

But at a hastily called press conference yesterday, where he struggled to hold back his own laughter, Dr de Marco announced that the law never existed. The Maltese had simply self-imposed this censorship throughout the decades by accident.

“I know! It was a surprise for me too,” he told the incredulous press that gathered outside the office of the Attorney General,who was tasked with researching the laws to recommend amendments.

As feather-laden girls danced obliviously (and aptly) to Cher’s Believe at carnival celebrations nearby, Dr de Marco blew apart the age-old myth that enthusiasts who poke fun at politicians would be breaking the law.

Political satire at carnival has been the subject of much debate throughout the years, with many politicians going on record saying the law should change to allow for more spontaneity.

Several committees had been set up in the past to see whether or not to allow political satire but while agreement was never reached, everyone took the ban for granted.

So how did it happen?

The Attorney General’s office traced the myth back to an obsoletepolice notice dating back to February 8, 1935, which was misinterpreted fromthe outset.

The police notice said: “No one shall carry emblems, flags or other signs relating toforeign political questions, or by anymasquerade or other means make allusions to the same.”

When Malta was governed by the British, the line between foreign and local political questions was blurry, especially with issues such as the famous language question, highly contentious at the time.

During his press conference, Dr de Marco read out an old newspaper excerpt from 1935 which had decried the end of political satire.

But as the decades rolled on, people forgot the law referred specifically to foreign political questions. They also forgot that police notices had to be reissued annually and this was not published for years.

And while most other regulations from 1935 were later transposed to the Criminal Code, political satire did not make the cut.

It was not just carnival enthusiasts, politicians and the public who continued to refer to the obsolete laws. The Malta Council for Culture and the Arts issues regulations each year for float-makers, referring to police laws that do not exist.

The regulations say “religious, partisan, pornographic and political” themes are not allowed according to police laws and/or the laws of the council.

With officials from the MCCA flanking him, Dr de Marco explained that reference to political satire in this regulation did not emerge from any actual legislation.

“The bottom line is there is no law, legal notice or subsidiary legislation that in some way regulates or prohibits satire in carnival. So we will not censor or prevent satire in our country,” he said, adding that being able to laugh at oneself was a test of maturity.

He also pointed out that politicalsatire was already commonplace inpantomimes, on television programmes and even at Gozo’s spontaneousNadur carnival.

Dr de Marco said he would now speak to the group of carnival participants to explain to them that they had full freedom to make fun of him and other politicians, as long as they respect other laws.

Maltese Carnival Association president Jason Busuttil welcomed the “surprising” news and said he looked forward to discussing ways to introduce political satire, while retaining traditions.

He warned that the public wouldneed time to adjust so satire should beintroduced slowly as a category in thecarnival competitions.

So politicians should not expect to become the centre of attention just yet, it seems.