2019–2020 Maltese protests
2019 protest movement started in Malta / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about 2019 Maltese protests?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The 2019–2020 Maltese protests started in Valletta and other urban centres of Malta on 20 November 2019, mainly calling for resignations[10][11] after alleged political links[12][13][14] to the assassination of journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia surfaced following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech. The protesters also targeted government corruption[15] and the lack of action on money laundering.[16] The protests consisted of demonstrations, marches, sit-ins, and civil disobedience and have been unprecedented in Malta's political history since its independence from the United Kingdom.[11]
This article needs to be updated. (March 2020) |
2019–2020 Maltese protests | |||
---|---|---|---|
Part of the 2019 Malta political crisis | |||
Date | 20 November 2019 (2019-11-20) – 11 January 2020 (2020-01-11) | ||
Location | |||
Caused by |
| ||
Methods | Protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, civil disobedience, online activism | ||
Resulted in |
| ||
Parties | |||
Lead figures | |||
Repubblika Robert Abela (from 13 January 2020) | |||
Casualties | |||
Injuries | 2 policemen sustained minor injuries[8][9] |
As of December 2019 the Maltese government was accused of using intimidation tactics against protesters and journalists.[17] Caruana Galizia's family accused Muscat of trying to shield members of the inner circle from the investigations.[18] Organisers contested claims that protests were violent in any way, while an official spokesperson said that some protesters did "resort to violence, abuse and incitement."[19]
On 1 December 2019, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that he would resign on 12 January 2020.[20] Constitutional experts, legal bodies, and other representatives stated that Muscat's decision to remain in office until January 2020 and to have a more than six-week Parliamentary recess over Christmas[21][22] led to the crisis within Maltese institutions.[22][23][24] The Caruana Galizia family,[25] political parties,[26][27][28] the European Union mission in Malta,[5] academics,[29] NGOs, civil society, the University of Malta students' union,[30] former advisers,[31] industrial organisations, and organised business and labour unions called for his immediate resignation.[32] On 13 January 2020, Joseph Muscat resigned,[33] satisfying one of the protestors' main demands.[23]
As of December 2019 businesses were negatively affected by both the crisis[34][35] and the protests,[36] while major industrial associations[37] and institutions[38] expressed concern at the impact of the turmoil.[39]