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MASSIMO COSTA ROBERT Abela, a contender for the Labour Party leader- ship, came out against the on- going protests, insisting their only remaining purpose was to cause provocation. The past weeks have seen unrelenting protests by civil society spurred by shocking revelations emerging from the investigations in Daphne Caruana Galizia's murder that have implicated the Prime Minister's former chief of staff. While Joseph Muscat has said he will be stepping down after a new Labour leader is elected on 12 January, protesters are calling for the Prime Minister to resign immediately. They have been joined in their call by all Malta's independent media organisations. A number of prominent La- bour Party figures, including former president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, former MEP Marlene Mizzi, and former MEP candidate Cyrus Engerg- er have also urged Muscat to step down at once. But Abela, who along with Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne is running for the lead- ership of the party, said in an interview on One TV on Tues- day that at this point the only goal of the protests is to pro- voke. The prime ministerial hope- ful said he would "not tolerate that anyone destroys the coun- try" nor that "certain limits are surpassed." "[The protesters] should keep in mind that if they are suc- cessful in destroying the coun- try, it will be they who inherit a broken country, and it will likewise be them who have to solve the problem," Abela said. "I believe that the only aim of the protests now is of provoca- tion. And at the very moment that someone makes a mis- take – and I think I'm being very clear on what such a mis- take could be – at that point those protesters would have achieved the biggest win they could ever achieve." He emphasised that those protesting should not take advantage of the fact that the government wanted to main- tain calm and public order and use this to do what they want- ed. Abela said that the change which was needed couldn't happen suddenly, but needed to follow a process. "We need substantial change, which can- not take place overnight, but has to be undertaken with cau- tion." His comments came a day af- ter Graffitti activists stormed the Office of the Prime Minis- ter and staged a five-hour sit-in inside the building. Abela added that he enjoyed "an excellent relationship" with all 37 members of Labour's par- liamentary group, and that all MPs were united and ready to work for the necessary changes to be put in place and for the restoration of serenity. But Abela is not alone in his stance against the protests. PL MEP Alex Agius Saliba took to Facebook on Monday to denounce what he said were efforts by protestors to create "anarchy and civil disobedi- ence." Agius Saliba said the "cra- ziness" had to stop at once, stressing that Malta "could not keep being dominated by a small group of people who think they're above the law." "I will always fight for free- dom of expression," the MEP said, "But I will fight just as strongly against extremism and anarchy, which is being promoted by a small group of persons who want to destabi- lise the country." Agius Saliba's views were echoed by those of former na- tionalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who said the protests were bringing Malta close to a "state of anarchy." Pullicino, who chairs the Malta Council for Science and Technology and is a supporter of the Muscat administration, said the right of Valletta busi- nesses to be able to operate normally was as important as the right to freedom of speech. He appealed to the Police Commissioner to ensure that protests take place in such a way as to not disrupt business- es and the capital's workers and visitors. "We are now playing with fire… we are sliding into a state of anarchy. The few think they have the right to do as they please, dictating to the many how they should live their lives," he said. Pullicino Orlando was one of Caruana Galizia's frequent critics but in the wake of the revelations connected to her murder, he had, last month, saluted her for exposing cor- ruption. mcosta@mediatoday.com.mt NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 11 DECEMBER 2019 2 EOI - Malta AgriFair 2020 - MFCC The Strategic Communications Unit within the Ministry for the Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change would like to invite interested businesses, cooperatives, entities and individuals involved in the agriculture and fisheries sectors to submit an expression of interest, for participation as exhibitors during the Malta AgriFair 2020. The Fair will be held at the Malta Fairs and Conventions Centre (MFCC) in Ta' Qali from the 24 th to the 26 th of April 2020. Interested exhibitors are to submit their proposal by not later than Thursday the 19 th of December 2019 on the following e-mail address: agrifair.mesdc@gov.mt. The Malta AgriFair 2020 aims to provide a platform for local agricultural stakeholders, while informing the public about the developments, modern technologies, products and services available in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The main theme of the Fair will be the Farm-to-Fork concept. This will be projected in the most innovative manner, through three main sections dedicated to crop & land management, livestock & animal husbandry and fisheries & aquaculture respectively. For more information, interested exhibitors are invited to download the Exhibitor's Information Booklet and the Expression of Interest Form from the following link: https://msdec.gov.mt/en/esdw/Pages/Agrifair/agrifairExhibitors.aspx or to call on (+356) 2292 6209. Protests only meant to provoke, Abela says