TMID editorial: 2024, an eventful year for Malta
2024 was an eventful year, a year where scandals continued to rock the country, with new ones emerging even in December.It was a year that will go down in history, marking the first time a former Prime Minister was charged in court. Joseph Muscat, as
2024 was an eventful year, a year where scandals continued to rock the country, with new ones emerging even in December.
It was a year that will go down in history, marking the first time a former Prime Minister was charged in court. Joseph Muscat, as well as three former ministers were charged over the Vitals hospitals deal, a deal that had been annulled by the courts in judgements that had mentioned fraud and collusion.
It was the year where the current Prime Minister, Robert Abela, tried to bring into question the timing of such a major magisterial inquiry that led to the aforementioned charges, instead of welcoming its conclusion, due to the inquiry concluding so close to the MEP and local council elections.
It was also a year where many magisterial inquiries were requested by third parties into various scandals. As an example, an inquiry was requested, and launched, into an alleged Identita racket, and a magisterial inquiry was requested over Nadur road works that went €10 million over budget. The Prime Minister is now demanding reforms to magisterial inquiries, arguing that they are being abused. He should let justice take its course. Magisterial inquiries have played an extremely important role in upholding justice in recent years, they must not be weakened and any attempt to do so will be seen as trying to weaken the justice process. This is especially the case when the police are perceived to be weak when it comes to tackling high profile cases.
In terms of foreign affairs, Malta left its mark on the world stage. Malta continued to sit on the UN Security Council until the country's term ended in December, and Malta also took over as Chair of the OSCE, with Minister Ian Borg at the helm, holding a major international meeting in Malta later in the year. Roberta Metsola was again re-elected President of the European Parliament. Both made Malta proud.
It was a year that saw a new President in Malta take office, Myriam Spiteri Debono, who has made a number of impactful speeches thus far.
2024 will also be marked as the year when Air Malta had its final flight, and when KM Malta Airlines had its first. It was also a year that marked the 50th anniversary of Malta as a republic.
The MEP and local council elections saw the Labour Party victorious in both, but its once massive lead was significantly cut. Both parties have a lot of work to do to convince the people that they are right for the future of the country.
It was also the year when the Jean Paul Sofia inquiry was concluded. The government pledged to implement the recommendations, and one hopes that regulations will be strong enough, and will be enforced well enough, to prevent such situations from ever occurring again.
The year also saw tragedies take place. There were four murders, while the discovery of a body in a suitcase in the sea in December also stunned the nation. A total of 13 people died in 2024 after falling from a height of at least one storey, four more than in 2023. 10 other people died in other, less common accidents. 13 individuals lost their life after having difficulties in open water and pools, and this is not to mention those who lost their lives in traffic accidents. Far too many who lost their lives prematurely.
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