The Seven Major Events That Made 2022 A Landmark Year For Malta
A general election, two femicides, an end to pandemic restrictions and an environmental revolution. For good or ill, 2022 will certainly be a year to remember among the Maltese.
Here are seven happenings in the last twelve months that made 2022 a landmark year for Malta.
1. The murder and rape of Paulina Dembska
2022 didn’t start right as the island woke up to the news that 29-year old Paulina Dembska had been raped and murdered by Abner Aquilina on the first night of the year.
The tragedy raised awareness on women’s rights and a call for public spaces to be monitored by police officials, especially during nighttime, and prompted the government to legislate against femicide.
Paulina Dembska (Source: Lovin Malta)
2. Roberta Metsola becomes the President of the European Parliament
On 18th January, the nation gushed with pride.
For the first time ever, a Maltese MEP was elected as the European Parliament President. Roberta Metsola made history by becoming the youngest-ever President and only the third woman to ever take on the role.
Roberta Metsola (Source: Lovin Malta)
3. Labour secures another 5 years of government
On 27th March, Labour secured its third consecutive term as Malta’s government since 2013. Although this came as no surprise for the country, it was an election of many firsts.
It was the first election that Robert Abela won since becoming party leader, it was alsothe first time since 1966 where the turnout dipped to below 90% and it was the first election where gender quotas came into force.
Robert Abela days after his landslide election win (Source: Lovin Malta)
Chris Fearne announced a landmark scrapping of almost all pandemic restrictions (Source: Times of Malta)
5. Action in Comino led to an environmental awakening
Saturday 11th June saw Moviment Graffitti activists show up at Blue Lagoon to physically remove deckchairs and umbrellas. Despite years of vendors misusing Comino for its tourist appeal, Maltese authorities had taken little action, and Graffitti wanted to take matters into their own hands.
However, this event was not just its own success but kickstarted a series of actions by Moviment Graffiti against injustices in Bidnija and Mediterraneo Marine Park, among others.
Andre Callus during the first Moviment Graffitti protest in June (Source: The Malta Independent)
6. Bernice Cassar shot dead by her husband
Mother of two Bernice Cassar was shot dead on 22nd November, allegedly by her husband Roderick.
The recent tragedy that shocked the nation displayed the state’s unforgivable flaws in action targeting domestic violence. Cassar had been reporting abuse for months before her murder, and she was asked to wait for more than a year to have her husband trialled at court.
Bernice Cassar (Source: The Malta Independent)
7. Abortion bill passes first hurdle in Parliament
Just a few days ago, on 19th of December, Malta’s Parliament voted to decriminalise the act of terminating a pregnancy when the mother’s health is in danger.
While the bill still has a few more legal hurdles to overcome before it can become law, the vote was hugely symbolic and telling for a country that employs some of the world’s strictest abortion laws.
What do you think is the event that shook Malta the most in 2022?