---
title: "Robert Abela Rejects Anti-Mafia Legislation and Criticises Prosecutors"
date: 2026-10-12T11:00:56.891+00:00
updated: 2026-10-12T11:00:56.891+00:00
topics: ["Politics", "Crime", "Courts", "National"]
canonical: https://filqosor.com/article/2026-10-12/robert-abela-rejects-anti-mafia-legislation-and-criticises-prosecutors
source: Fil-Qosor
---

# Robert Abela Rejects Anti-Mafia Legislation and Criticises Prosecutors

## In brief

- Prime Minister Robert Abela stated that Malta does not have a mafia, reiterating his opposition to dedicated anti-mafia legislation.
- Abela criticised prosecutors for charging defendants with criminal association under Article 83A of the Criminal Code.
- The Prime Minister announced that a planned media bill will offer local legal protection to journalists against SLAPP lawsuits.

Prime Minister Robert Abela has rejected calls for specialised anti-mafia legislation, insisting during a broadcast interview that organised mafia structures do not exist in Malta. Speaking to LabourToday, Abela defended his administration's legislative record and addressed ongoing debates surrounding criminal justice reforms.

Abela questioned the conduct of state prosecutors, criticising their decision to file charges under Article 83A of the Criminal Code. The article covers criminal association, which carries heavy penalties for conspiracies involving three or more people who agree to commit criminal offences.

According to the Prime Minister, applying criminal association in certain prosecutions is inappropriate. He used the interview to restate why his government remains firmly against enacting a bespoke anti-mafia act, maintaining that existing provisions within the Criminal Code are sufficient for Maltese courts.

The remarks touch upon a long-running debate in Maltese politics regarding whether the country requires specific anti-mafia statutes similar to those in other European jurisdictions. Critics and opposition figures have repeatedly demanded targeted legislation to combat high-level corruption and complex criminal networks.

Abela also turned to planned reforms governing the press, confirming that the government is drafting a new media bill. He explained that the forthcoming legislation intends to protect journalists at a domestic level against strategic lawsuits against public participation, commonly known as SLAPP suits.

Such legal actions are typically filed to intimidate and financially drain media organisations or reporters through costly court proceedings. Abela maintained that the proposed legal protections would shield journalists from abusive domestic litigation, whilst balancing the rights of individuals within the justice system.

## The Spin Room

**Medium media divide.** Coverage differed in focus, with reporting split between the Prime Minister's criticism of prosecutors and his broader remarks on organised crime and media protection.

- **The Maltese Herald:** Focused heavily on the Prime Minister's criticism of state prosecutors and his objections to charges brought under Article 83A.
- **Times of Malta:** Led with Abela's declaration that there is no mafia in Malta, alongside details of planned legal shields against SLAPP lawsuits.

## Sources (2)

- [Times of Malta](https://timesofmalta.com/article/there-no-mafia-malta-robert-abela-says.1135425)
- [The Maltese Herald](https://themalteseherald.com/2026/10/11/taking-jabs-at-the-prosecutors/)

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