Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1521430
2 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 MAY 2024 2 Muscat and co. charged: It hap- pened. Former prime minister Jo- seph Muscat was charged on Tues- day, together with his former chief of staff Keith Schembri and ex-minister Konrad Mizzi, with bribery, trading in influence, money laundering, and various other crimes. Before the court hearing began, scores of supporters gathered in front of the law courts to show support towards the three of them (although mostly for Muscat). People waved the Labour Party flag, they wore their Labour Party mer- chandise, and they sang the Labour Party anthem. If you want to revisit the events as they happened, you can find our blow-by-blow account of the day, including the court proceedings, here. Scenes from the courthouse: Many were quick to comment on the crowd scenes outside the law courts, in- cluding EP president and National- ist Party candidate Roberta Metsola. She insisted that the scenes outside the law courts on Tuesday "are not what Malta should be about", and that the country needs "real leadership". Meanwhile, Labour MEP Marija Sara Vella Gafa says anyone who's calling Labour supporters "sheep" or "goats" is showing their true colours todau. Metsola and Vella Gafa have one thing in common though – they're both using this to urge people to vote on 8 June. Cassola meets Graffitti: A couple of days ago, independent candidate Arnold Cassola met with Moviment Graffitti at their Valletta office. He said that, if elected to the European Parliament, he would work hand-in- hand with Moviment Graffitti "with the intention of making Malta and Maltese society a better, more beau- tiful, healthier and socially-just coun- try". What do you mean? Isn't Malta already so beautiful? I love concrete and I bet breathing construction dust everyday can be good for you. And so- cially-just? Nothing says social justice like defending politicians who might have embezzled taxpayer money. What's happening today?: The La- bour Party will be in Mtarfa at 5:30pm and Ħal Luqa at 6:30pm. The Nation- alist Party will be in Ħal Balzan at 6pm and Marsaskala at 6:30pm. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt These articles are part of a content series called Ewropej. This is a multi-newsroom initiative part-funded by the European Parliament to bring the work of the EP closer to the citizens of Malta and keep them informed about matters that affect their daily lives. This article reflects only the author's view. The action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament's grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action. If people don't chant loudly and wave f lags when I go vote, then I'm simply not voting – here's your round-up of a very hectic day 28 I want a hero's welcome when I go to my polling station on 8 June CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Muscat, Mizzi, a former minister, and Schembri, who served as Muscat's chief of staff, were charged in line with the recommendations made in the Vitals in- quiry. On Tuesday, the case against them and 11 other individuals and nine companies got underway. More individuals, includ- ing former minister Chris Fearne and Central Bank of Malta Governor Edward Scicluna, are expected to be charged to- day. Despite the severity of the charges against them, Muscat, Mizzi and Schem- bri were each given a hero's welcome outside the courthouse in Valletta by a large crowd of supporters. People started gathering in the square as early as 9am, occasionally clapping and chanting 'Viva l-Labour' and 'Joseph, Joseph'. They also sang the PL anthem and taunted the Opposition by chanting 'Kastilja ma tidħlux, allelujah (You will not enter Castille)'. The first to arrive was Schembri, fol- lowed by Mizzi in red spectacles, who waved to the crowd as he stood on the steps of the law court. The crowd grew ecstatic when Muscat and his wife Michelle arrived, accompa- nied by a security detail. Joseph Muscat, given hero's Joseph Muscat