Fun Run

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Adrian Dellia share a light moment in St George’s Square, Valletta, after completing the President’s Fun Run.

What made the headlines

Malta tops Europe list of early school leavers: Almost a fifth of Maltese young people aged 18 to 24 do not receive any form of education or train-ing, placing the county on top of the EU early school leavers’ list. The EU average last year stood at 12.4 per cent, well below Malta’s 19.7 per cent, according to the European Commission’s 2017 Social Scoreboard.

Passports schemes under EU scrutiny: The transparency of cash-for-passport schemes such as the one operated in Malta are under scrutiny, a spokesman for the European Commission told the Times of Malta. The spokesman said Brussels is drawing up a report on national schemes granting EU citizenship to rich individuals.

Multi-million online gaming racket linked to Qormi firm: A multi-million euro online gambling racket involving parlours across Italy was directly connected to a server hosted by a Qormi-based company, the Times of Malta was told. Months-long investigations by the Italian fiscal police led to the arrest of seven people suspected of being involved in the racket.

First National Children’s Policy launched: A National Children’s Policy un-veiled by Family Minister Michael Falzon outlined 110 proposals for how children’s rights should be upheld. The policy document covers five main areas: home environment, social well-being, health and environment, education and employment and leisure and culture.

‘PD agreement with PN no longer stands’: The coalition agreement between the Nationalist Party and the Democratic Party no longer stands, new PD chairman Anthony Buttigieg said on TimesTalk. Dr Buttigieg said party MPs Marlene and Godfrey Farrugia are not attending meetings of the PN parliamentary group because they are not being invited.

Garage owner target in Attard shooting – police: The target of the shooting in Attard on November 17 that left a Qormi man dead was upholsterer Raymond Grima, who remains in a critical condition, the police said.  The murder took place in Mr Grima’s workshop on Mdina Road at about 6.20pm just as Anġlu Mangion, 58, entered the garage. Mr Mangion was shot three times and died on the spot while Mr Grima was hit four times and survived.

Quarter of children at risk of poverty: A quarter of Maltese children remain at risk of poverty or social exclusion, despite a slight improvement over the past six years, European data shows. Figures issued by Eurostat on the occasion of Universal Children’s Day showed that 24 per cent of those aged between zero and 17 were at risk of poverty in 2016.

‘Remove Deputy Police Commissioner from journalist’s murder probe’: The widower and children of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia instituted constitutional proceedings against the Police Commissioner, the Attorney General and Deputy Police Commissioner Silvio Valletta claiming that Mr Valletta’s involvement in the murder investigation could breach their right to a fair hearing.  The four family members requested the court to declare that Mr Valletta’s role in the investigation following the October 16 bomb attack impinged upon the objectivity and impartiality necessary in such circumstances. Mr Valletta, together with his wife, Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana, had been targeted by harsh criticism by Mrs Caruana Galizia.

Six PN MPs don’t vote after party prevents free vote on IVF motion: Nationalist MPs Simon Busuttil, Therese Comodini Cachia, Karl Gouder, Mario de Marco, Karol Aquilina and Chris Said did not turn up in Parliament to vote on an Opposition motion concerning on a Legal Notice granting 100 hours of leave to couples undergoing IVF treatment. They said they did not participate in the vote, instead of voting against the motion together with the Labour Party and the Democratic Party, as this might have been misconstrued as a vote supporting a government “sunk with corruption and which has eroded the independence and impartiality of national institutions.”

PN pledged to sell 10 clubs to manage soaring debt: The Nationalist Party pledged to sell 10 of its clubs over 10 years when it was faced with soaring debt repayments in 2015, the Times of Malta revealed. Party sources said a financial structure called Patria Trust had been set up, pledging to sell clubs over the course of a decade to “get some breathing space” from the rising interest rates on its debt.

What trended

Road rage

A truck driver with a death-wish was dubbed “Malta’s most dangerous driver” by our online team this week after he featured in two separate videos of madcap driving sent in by readers.

Charitable souls could argue that the driver was having a bad day and had forgotten his driving skills at the garage. Readers’ comments suggested otherwise.

“I believe this same truck did the same thing near the airport roundabout on Tuesday,” wrote one reader after watching the first video, as another said the very same truck ran a red light on Qormi road, Luqa, that very day.

“It’s a miracle no one was hurt,” they said.

“Does he not realise his carelessness could end up taking someone’s life, or doesn’t he care?” asked another reader, as they joined the chorus of outrage at the seeming impunity with which tarmac cowboys were allowed to roam local roads.

Not everyone was fuming, though. “It’s an average Maltese driver, I don’t see what the problem is,” wrote one man. “He just have bigger car [sic].”

Mixed reactions to Di Pietro

The Civil Society Network’s next event will feature mafia scourge-turned-politician Antonio Di Pietro as one of the speakers, with the activist group keen to ensure the embers of constitutional change continue to be stoked well into winter.

In a nation which is hopelessly cleaved down the middle, news of Mr Di Pietro’s participation drew mixed reactions, unsurprisingly.

“The Civil Society Network is proving to be a veritable silver lining to the dark clouds over Malta,” wrote one reader, who praised CSN members for “doggedly refusing to give up and back down.”

Others were less charitable.

“A good magistrate but a failed politician,” noted one commenter. “Apt choice for the civil society network.”

With many arguing that an Italian telling Malta about good governance was a desperate case of the pot calling the kettle black, one woman intervened to urge people to look at the bigger picture.

“At least they speak up and try fix things, unlike Malta where everything seems to be continuing as though nothing ever happened,” she wrote.

One reader could not resist a sardonic aside. “A failed Italian politician,” he mused, “is exactly what we need.”

What they said

“We can always disagree, but true generosity means finding unity even in disagreement.”

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca addressing participants in the annual President’s Fun Run.

“From globalisation to the migrant crisis, the past 20 years have shown us that the world is becoming smaller and that Africa’s problems have become Europe’s.”

European Parliament president Antonio Tajani writing in a Talking Point in the Times of Malta entitled ‘Partnership among equals’.

“The jury is out. So far, what he has said, and what he said prior to being elected, is not very encouraging.”

Democratic Party leader Anthony Buttigieg giving his opinion on PN leader Adrian Delia.

“We asked to be given a free vote but sadly note that this was not accepted.”

A press statement by the six Nationalist MPs who did not vote on an Opposition motion concerning a Legal Notice on IVF treatment.

“We cannot accept a siege mentality. We are confident of our system, which is solid, transparent and fully compliant.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat defending Malta’s financial services sector when addressing the Institute of Financial Services annual seminar.

“The media is the gatekeeper, the body that separates facts from fiction.”

MEP Roberta Metsola speaking at a conference on the media which her office organised.