Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1540360
7 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 15 OCTOBER 2025 ANALYSIS Manufacturing a threat to rally rural voters singling out the "extremists" opposed to its constitutional plans while emphasis- ing their links to the so-called PN estab- lishment. In this sense, Abela could use the controversy triggered by his own actions to further endear himself with lobbies angered by citizens who stand in their way. 3) In a time of uncertainty triggered by unprecedented demographic and social change, Abela is allying these fears by presenting himself as a defender of traditions. Abela's move also taps into fears of so- cial change triggered by Malta's shifting demography. It was no surprise that two weeks ago Abela conjured the image of some "for- eigner" or expat using the PN's amend- ment to stop feasts in Malta. He later retracted the comment, saying he could have used a better example — but there was a logic to his statement. At a time when Malta is undergoing rapid demographic change, with many new residents coming from more secu- lar and environmentally conscious EU countries, a segment of the population is clinging to tradition as a bulwark against social transformation. Of course, Abela is once again conjur- ing forces he may not be able to control. For why stop at hobbies and traditions, and not insulate Malta from any kind of change — including progressive re- forms once championed by Labour? 4) This made-up controversy offers a convenient distraction from the one on Abela's overhaul of the planning system. Finally, the move provides a distrac- tion from the ongoing controversy over planning laws and aims to perpetuate the stereotype of environmentalists as urbanites detached from local tradi- tions and ways of life. With concern over overdevelopment and the environment rising not just nationally but also in rural villages and Gozo, environmental groups can now mobilise thousands from all walks of life against Abela's planning shake-up. Some environmentalists will naturally recoil at the suggestion of enshrining hunting as a constitutionally protect- ed activity — but in doing so, they risk playing into Abela's divide-and-rule tactics. That said, environmental groups, in- cluding BirdLife, have never lobbied for the abolition of any hobby or tradition, and so far, none have taken the bait. Still, instead of teaming up with envi- ronmentalists to oppose overdevelop- ment, single-minded hobbyists — espe- cially hunters — seem more interested in protecting their turf from a largely imaginary threat. Opening a can of worms For these four reasons Abela's political calculation may well boost Labour's for- tunes, especially in districts where the hunting lobby is strong. But it could also open a can of worms. Lawmakers will now have to define clearly which hobbies and traditions merit constitutional protection — and to what level. Protecting a tradition does not preclude the introduction of scientifically grounded regulations or EU-driven meas- ures aimed at mitigating environmental impacts on health and wildlife. One can still have hunting without al- lowing it in spring, and one can still have feasts that address safety concerns raised by studies — such as those authored by respected academics like university rector Alfred Vella on fireworks. Even the mo- torsport track is currently the subject of studies on noise impacts, particularly on the nearby Natura 2000 site. Moreover, all permitted human activi- ties which have an impact on nature are regulated. For example, you still need an environmental permit to organise an activity in protected areas. And while hunting is allowed one is not allowed to shoot in any time of the year or at any- thing which flies in the sky. And while Abela's move may be ef- fective in arresting the haemorrhage to the PN among a particular sector of society, his antics may further alienate more progressive elements within La- bour who increasingly find it hard to identify with a party more interested in protecting traditions than in pushing the boundaries of civil liberties and sec- ularism by for example introducing the Equality bill to prohibit discrimination in all spheres of life. Instead of addressing valid concerns by foolproofing the PN's amendment to rule out frivolous complaints leading to injunctions not based on scientific facts, Abela wants to push through an amendment that risks turning the Constitution into a dumpster for everybody's fetishes Ta Qali National Stadium Parishioners in Haz-Zebbug admiring a display of fireworks, which are an intrinsic element of the traditional Maltese festa (Photo: James Bianchi/MaltaToday)