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9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 5 APRIL 2026 ANALYSIS Unfinished business: What a Spring election could leave behind ROBERT Abela teased an election at the Labour Party's annual commem- oration of Freedom Day but stopped short of announcing the date, or even mentioning the word 'election'. Even if it is only the prime minister who knows the date, the inevitability of an election hangs heavy in the air, judging by the frenzy of activity at party and candidate level. But if an election is called in the coming days or weeks, what will gov- ernment's unfinished business look like? The government would postpone several major and controversial deci- sions, leaving them for the next leg- islature. Pending legislation on two contentious reforms—the planning bills and the media reform bills—will expire, effectively obliging the next government to re-table them, if at all. We reviewed the status of these pending bills and other decisions, projects and plans that would be put on hold if a general election is called now. PLANNING REFORM BILLS Two planning bills tabled before last summer remain in limbo. Bill 143 would have given planning boards broad powers to override local plans, change zoning, and increase build- ing heights, among other significant changes to the planning process. Bill 144 would have introduced the suspension of works pending the outcome of all appeal processes but would also have limited judicial over- sight by making the politically-ap- pointed Environment and Planning Review Tribunal's findings final. Apart from these two bills, govern- ment had also tabled legal notices to introduce building amnesties of sorts for past sins. The legislation sparked widespread opposition from NGOs, residents, and some Labour supporters and of- ficials. Prime Minister Robert Abela has expressed willingness to com- promise, but no agreement has been reached yet. Meanwhile, permits for completed developments continue to be revoked simply because works continue to be allowed during ap- peals. Abela has repeatedly denied accu- sations of deliberately delaying the reform ahead of an election. He also insisted that "there's no need to rush this process" and promised that the planning reforms would not move forward in parliament without prop- er consultation with environmental NGOs, stressing that "there were no commitments or deadlines with any- one". Calling an election now would effec- tively mean the bills expire, indirectly fulfilling the NGO demand for their withdrawal. The question is will they be revived after the general election, and if so, in what shape or form? MEDIA REFORM BILLS The media reform remains in legis- lative limbo, with the three core bills (Bills 17, 18 and 19) still pending since they were first tabled in parliament in October 2022, following the work carried out by a government-appoint- ed media experts committee. Effec- tively, the government had taken on board the majority of suggestions put forward by the committee but left out the more crucial aspects that would have guaranteed greater media free- dom. Following criticism, the govern- ment finally conducted a formal pub- lic consultation from 1 August 2025 to October 2025. No amendments to the pending bills were proposed since and the parliamentary process remains frozen with the government still evaluating the feedback. Mean- while, the government transposed through legal notice, the European Anti-SLAPP directive but rejected suggestions that would have strength- ened it. The IĠM (Institute of Maltese Journalists) has remained critical, la- belling the proposed protections as "weak" and "disappointing" while de- manding that journalism be constitu- JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt A placard calling on government to scrap a planning reform bill during a protest in 2025. An election now will effectively kill the planning reform bills tabled in parliament since they would expire (Photo: Jade Bezzina/MaltaToday) CONTINUES NEXT PAGE >