2019–2020 Maltese protests

2019–2020 Maltese protests
2019–2020 Maltese protests
Part of the 2019 Malta political crisis and Protests against democratic backsliding
	Protests in front of the Parliament House, Valletta
Date	20 November 2019 – 11 January 2020
Location	Malta Other countries: United Kingdom ; Belgium ; Spain ; Netherlands ; Germany ;
Caused by	Business and alleged political involvement in the plot to assassinate journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia; Governmental corruption; Governmental influence on judiciary; Governmental influence on criminal investigations; Maladministration;
Methods	Protests, demonstrations, sit-ins, civil disobedience, online activism
Resulted in	Resignation of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Minister Konrad Mizzi, and Prime Minister's Chief of Staff Keith Schembri;
Parties
Protesters NGOs; Maltese opposition Nationalist Party; Democratic Party; Democratic Alternative;	Government of Malta Malta Police Force; Labour Party;
Lead figures
	Repubblika ; (NGO); Occupy Justice ; (Women Led Protest Group); Manuel Delia ; (Blogger and activist) ; Moviment Graffitti ; (NGO) Robert Abela (from 13 January 2020); (Prime Minister of Malta) Joseph Muscat (until 13 January 2020); (Prime Minister of Malta)
Casualties
Injuries	2 policemen sustained minor injuries

The 2019–2020 Maltese protests started in Valletta and other urban centres of Malta on 20 November 2019, mainly calling for resignations after alleged political links to the assassination of journalist and blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia surfaced following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech. The protesters also targeted government corruption and the lack of action on money laundering. The protests were unprecedented in Malta's political history since its independence from the United Kingdom.

As of December 2019, the Maltese government was accused of using intimidation tactics against protesters and journalists. Caruana Galizia's family accused Muscat of trying to shield members of the inner circle from the investigations.

On 1 December 2019, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced that he would resign on 12 January 2020. 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 led to the crisis within Maltese institutions. The Caruana Galizia family, political parties, the European Union mission in Malta, academics, NGOs, industrial organisations, and organised business and labour unions called for his immediate resignation. On 13 January 2020, Joseph Muscat resigned, satisfying one of the protestors' main demands.