---
title: "Planning Authority Approvals Rose, Refusals Fell Before Election"
date: 2026-06-03T13:59:10.076+00:00
updated: 2026-06-03T13:59:10.076+00:00
topics: ["Politics", "Planning", "National"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-06-03/planning-authority-approvals-rose-refusals-fell-before-election
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Planning Authority Approvals Rose, Refusals Fell Before Election

## In brief

- The Planning Authority saw a sharp decrease in permit refusals before the 2026 general election.
- This trend is similar to the period leading up to the 2022 general election.
- Reports indicate that 248 permits were approved by the PA in the pre-election period.

The Planning Authority (PA) experienced a significant shift in its permit decisions in the months leading up to the 2026 general election. Reports indicate a sharp drop in the number of permit refusals during this period.

Times of Malta highlighted this decrease in refusals, noting that a similar trend was observed before the 2022 general election. This suggests a pattern of increased permit approvals or reduced scrutiny in the run-up to national polls. NET News specifically reported that 248 permits were approved by the PA in the period preceding the election, contributing to the overall change in the authority's decision-making statistics.

## The Spin Room

**Medium media divide.** Times of Malta highlighted a sharp drop in Planning Authority refusals before the election, noting a similar trend in 2022, while NET News reported that 248 permits were approved during the same period.

- **Times of Malta:** Emphasised the sharp drop in refusals and the recurring pattern before general elections.
- **NET News:** Focused on the specific number of permits approved by the PA before the election.

## Sources (2)

- [NET News](https://netnews.com.mt/2026/06/03/il-pa-approva-248-permess-qabel-l-elezzjoni/)
- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/hold.1129413)

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---

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