15 Jan 2020 | 01:32 AM UTC
Malta: Robert Abela sworn in as prime minister January 13 /update 11
Labour Party elects Robert Abela as leader and prime minister on January 12; protests expected to continue over the near term
Event
Robert Abela was sworn in as Prime Minister of Malta on Monday, January 13, after being elected as leader of the Labour Party on Sunday, January 12. Prime Minister Abela won the party election with 57.9 percent of the vote.
Protests are expected to continue in the coming days and weeks should Prime Minister Abela fail to adhere to protesters demands of political reform and justice. Thousands of people have participated in demonstrations in Valletta since November 26, 2019, to demand political change and the resignation of senior government officials for their perceived complicity in the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017. Galizia is believed to have been assassinated due to her reporting on government corruption in Malta.
Advice
Individuals in Malta, particularly in Valletta, are advised to monitor developments, avoid all protests and demonstrations, prepare for transportation disruptions around protest sites, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.
