Crowds in Valletta call for PM’s resignation, heckle ministers in front of Parliament
Crowds of protesters descended on Valletta yesterday evening to demand the resignation or removal of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
They called on Muscat to either resign or, short of that, for Parliament to exercise its power to remove him from his post.
The protest, organised by civil society groups Repubblika and Occupy Justice, comes after the arrest of Yorgen Fenech yesterday morning.
The protesters gathered in front of the Prime Minister's office, many of them carrying placards showing the photo of slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and messages calling for an end to corruption and resignations.
A poster with the words ‘Le ghall-korruzzjoni’ was hung across the main door leading to the PM's office.
Former Opposition leader Simon Busuttil at one point climbed up the stairs leading to the main door with a placard reading ‘Iz-zejt jitla' f'wicc l-ilma’.
The protesters later walked to the Law Courts, where the Great Siege Monument opposite the building has served as a makeshift memorial to slain journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, where the national anthem was sung.
On their way out of the city, the protesters stopped close to the Parliament building where government MPs were heckled as they walked out the building.
A main target was Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, who is responsible for the department which clears up the flowers and candles that are placed at the foot of the Great Siege Monument. "Do the flowers bug you," protesters shouted.
Others covered cars used by ministers with the posters they were carrying and prevented the car from leaving for some time.
The situation became tense and descended into chaos outside of Parliament with people screaming, banging on the Justice Minister Owen Bonnici’s car and spitting on it, until they dispersed. A police woman had her foot injured when her foot became stuck under the car’s wheel.