Updated | PN files fresh injunction after judge orders revocation of previous one

The first hall of the civil court has upheld an injunction presented by the Nationalist Party, filed by the party after a judge ordered the revocation of a previous injunction preventing authorities from removing PN billboards.

The Judge had ordered the revocation based on an application filed by the Planning Authority and Transport Malta. Twenty days had elapsed since the PN had filed an injunction when a new legal notice came to force – 20 days during which the PN failed to follow-up on its injunction. The PA and TM yesterday requested an application and this was held by a judge this morning.

Moments later, the PN filed a fresh request. The party said that the injunction should remain in place after the Constitutional Court hears a separate case filed by the PN over an alleged breach to its fundamental rights. The PN insists that removing the billboards would “impinge on its right to freedom of expression”.

Under a hotly contested legal notice issued on April 3rd, political billboards were only allowed to erect billboards three months before an election. Licence fees of €1500 - the rate applicable to commercial billboards - would be applied to billboards erected outside that period.

The PN argued in court that the charges would run up to about €30,000, effectively muzzling it and stifling its freedom of expression.

In a reaction, the Labour Party accused the PN of “not respecting” the court’s decision, thus filing a new application.

“It is clear that the Opposition leader holds no respect towards the court of law, except when something is decided in his favour,” the PL said.

It went on to insist that the PN should respect the court’s decision.