Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543552
A judgment delivered on 23 February 2026 by the Civil Court (Family Section) in a case presid- ed by Judge Jacqueline Padovani Grima, confirmed that domestic violence is a ground for separa- tion under civil law. The court decreed that the marriage breakdown was at- tributable to the husband's se- rious misconduct that included domestic violence, arson of the family home, and financial diffi- culties that were a consequence of his own actions. Consequently, the court found that the husband had no grounds to claim maintenance from his wife. The parties married in 1995 and had two daughters. Accord- ing to the wife, problems began even before the wedding due to the husband's alcohol abuse. The wife described a long pattern of abusive conduct, including be- ing punched, threatened with knives, and repeatedly verbally humiliated in front of their chil- dren. The court was also presented with criminal judgments con- firming that in 2017, the hus- band admitted to assaulting his wife and causing slight injuries. This led to a protection order. Furthermore, in 2019, the hus- band also admitted setting fire to the matrimonial home. He was sentenced to three years and four months imprisonment. The daughters' testimony was significant in this case. They both described growing up in an environment dominated by fear and unpredictability. Their fa- ther's alcohol consumption was described as constant and exces- sive. One daughter testified that at the age of 16 she experienced su- icidal thoughts due to the trau- matic home environment. She also described feeling safer at work or abroad than inside her own home. Both daughters confirmed that, although their father provided financially, he failed to provide emotional stability or a safe do- mestic environment. The court took note of the lasting psycho- logical harm suffered by the chil- dren and their continued need for therapy. While the husband did not contest the fact of separation itself, he strongly contested re- sponsibility for the breakdown of the marriage and resisted the financial consequences sought by the wife. The husband openly admitted that he suffered from alcohol dependency. He acknowledged that his drinking worsened dur- ing the marriage. The husband also admitted to setting fire to the matrimonial home. Howev- er, he attempted to minimise the gravity by stating that the dam- ages were limited in scope. He also claimed that he later sought to repair the damage. However, despite his best efforts, the court ruled that rather than mitigating liability in civil proceedings, his admission reinforced the seri- ousness of his conduct. A central pillar of his defence was that the wife failed to sup- port him adequately during his rehabilitation efforts. The hus- band claimed that she failed to attend family therapy sessions and that he lacked encourage- ment at a crucial stage of recov- ery. The professional evidence, however, indicated that while he did complete one programme, he struggled with accountabili- ty and was eventually dismissed from a later rehabilitation initia- tive due to behavioural issues. In a notable counterclaim, the husband sought maintenance from the wife, basing it on his imprisonment, loss of employ- ment and alleged physical health problems. Maintenance is gen- erally unavailable to a spouse whose serious fault caused the breakdown of the marriage. Therefore, ultimately, his claim did not succeed. The court concluded that there are grounds for separation and supported the wife's claim that the marriage had broken down due to sustained domestic vio- lence, psychological abuse and serious misconduct. The court also held that the fault was exclusively attributable to the husband and rejected his claims for maintenance. Finan- cial hardship resulted from his own criminal conduct. However, the wife too sought maintenance, claiming she had been largely economically dependent during the marriage, she was over 50 years old and that her employ- ment prospects were limited af- ter years outside the workforce. Given the exclusive fault of the husband and the wife's limited earning capacity, the court up- held her entitlement to mainte- nance. The court also ordered the dissolution of community of acquests and its liquidation in accordance with law. The court also ordered that the wife be granted protection. The husband's request that the prop- erty be sold and proceeds divid- ed equally was not upheld in the manner he requested. 8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 1 MARCH 2026 OPINION & LAW Court protects spouse due to serious domestic violence MALCOLM MIFSUD Mifsud & Mifsud Advocates Silvio Schembri Economy Minister Malta Vision 2050: A strategic framework for generational prosperity MALTA stands at a pivotal juncture in its economic evo- lution. The launch of Malta Vi- sion 2050 represents a departure from short-termism, shifting our focus toward a sustainable, long- term trajectory that ensures the prosperity of future generations. Our current capacity for such ambitious, multi-decadal plan- ning is a direct result of the ro- bust economic stability cultivat- ed over the past decade. From recovery to resilience To appreciate our future ob- jectives, we must contextualise our point of origin. In 2013, we inherited an economy charac- terised by stagnation, massive unemployment, and lack of FDI. Our initial strategic phase focused on systemic recovery and fiscal discipline. Through targeted interventions, we did more than just close the gap; we established Malta as a leading performer within the Eurozone, creating the fiscal "breathing space" necessary to pivot our national strategy from quantity to quality. Agility in crisis This economic resilience proved vital during the global pandemic. We acted with fis- cal agility, prioritising public health while simultaneously safeguarding the private sector through comprehensive sup- port mechanisms, including wage supplements, postpone- ment of taxes, vouchers and subsidies. Consequently, Malta achieved one of the most ac- celerated recoveries in Europe, maintaining our momentum despite global challenges. Over the last five years, our focus has intensified on high-value, niche ecosystems. We have successfully integrat- ed sectors such as fintech and blockchain, digital gaming and esports, advanced manufac- turing, aviation and maritime amongst others. The continued expansion of global industry leaders like ST- Microelectronics, Baxter, and Trelleborg serves as a powerful endorsement of our sound eco- nomic policies and economic stability. These sectors are not merely providing jobs; they are creating high-impact careers that will sustain our workforce for decades. A unified strategic umbrella While our sectoral policies have been successful, the next stage of our development re- quires total synchronisation. In collaboration with experts in the field we conducted a rigorous audit of our exist- ing frameworks. The findings were clear—while our individ- ual ministry strategies were excellent, the nation required a single, cohesive governance umbrella. Malta Vision 2050 is the cul- mination of that insight. It is a data-driven roadmap forged through extensive consultation with social partners and in- dustry stakeholders. We have around 1,800 actions which we grouped into 100 actionable macro-measures. To ensure accountability, a dedicated de- partment within the civil ser- vice has been mandated with the execution of this vision. And for the first time in our country's history, key perfor- mance indicators for these measures will be made public. Journalists, stakeholders, and the public will be able to ana- lyse our progress. Malta has outgrown the phase where success is measured by GDP alone. Economic growth is meaningless if it doesn't translate into a better quality of life for the citizens. Going forward, our success will be judged by new metrics, on the UN Human Develop- ment Report, where Malta cur- rently sits in 25th place. Our target is to reach the top 20 by 2035, and the top 10 by 2050. We are aiming for median dis- posable income to hit 115% by 2035. And on the overall life experience index, where we are currently ranked 12th, our goal is to reach 10th place by 2035 and be with the top 5 by 2050. Malta Vision 2050 (Photo: DOI)