The calls for Planning Authority Executive Chairperson Johann Buttigieg to leave his post are no longer coming from one corner of civil society.
MGW count: at least 37 distinct organisations, associations and political parties have now publicly called for Johann Buttigieg to resign or be removed from the Planning Authority.
The number is based on publicly reported statements issued since the publication of the full exchanges between Buttigieg and businessman Yorgen Fenech.
Importantly, this is a count of distinct organisations. Groups which later signed additional joint statements have not been counted twice.
Who has called for his removal?
10 environmental and civil-society NGOs initially issued a joint demand for Buttigieg’s removal.
Il-Kollettiv issued its own call, while Repubblika separately demanded his immediate removal.
11 youth and student organisations later called on the Prime Minister and planning minister to end Buttigieg’s tenure. One of these – Front Żgħażagħ għall-Ambjent – had already signed the original NGO statement, meaning this added 10 new organisations to the overall count.
13 residents’ and community organisations from across Malta then joined the calls.
The Nationalist Party and Momentum have also publicly called for Buttigieg’s resignation or removal.
Total distinct organisations and parties counted by MGW: at least 37.
What triggered the calls?
The latest controversy followed publication of WhatsApp exchanges dating back to 2019 between Buttigieg and Fenech.
The exchanges include discussions about development projects and potential business opportunities. The organisations calling for Buttigieg’s removal argue that the conversations raise serious questions about conflicts between public responsibilities and private business interests.
These are allegations and interpretations made by the organisations involved; they should not be confused with a judicial finding of criminal wrongdoing against Buttigieg.
Students and residents join in
On 14 September, eleven youth and student organisations entered the debate, saying the passage of time did not remove their concerns over the conduct revealed in the exchanges.
They called for Buttigieg’s tenure to end either through resignation or removal.
A day later, thirteen residents’ and community groups – including the Sliema Residents Association, Swieqi Pressure Group, Pembroke Community Association, Marsaskala Residents Network, Attard Residents and others – called for his immediate removal.
Latest escalation: letter sent directly to the Prime Minister
The pressure continued on 21 September when eleven environmental and residents’ organisations sent an urgent letter directly to Prime Minister Robert Abela.
They called not only for Buttigieg’s immediate removal but also for an independent investigation into the issues raised by the published communications and for stronger transparency and accountability rules.
Those eleven organisations do not add another eleven to MGW’s total because most were already included in earlier statements.
What has Robert Abela said?
Prime Minister Robert Abela has previously responded by pointing out that the existence of the chats had been publicly known for years and that their publication did not reveal something entirely new.
The student organisations rejected that argument, saying that how long the information had been known did not resolve their concerns over the conduct described in the exchanges.
And the Planning Authority?
A separate controversy emerged over a petition circulating among Planning Authority employees supporting Buttigieg.
The Planning Authority denied organising the petition and said that employees must be free to sign, decline or stay out of it without pressure or consequences.
From 10 NGOs to at least 37 groups
What began with an initial joint statement by ten NGOs has developed into a much broader public dispute over the leadership of one of Malta’s most powerful regulatory authorities.
As of 22 September 2026, MGW can independently identify at least 37 distinct organisations, residents’ groups, student organisations and political parties which have publicly called for Johann Buttigieg to resign or be removed.
This figure will be updated should further organisations publicly add their names to the calls.
Sources: MaltaToday, Times of Malta, Repubblika, Partit Nazzjonalista, Momentum and Moviment Graffitti statements and reporting published between 9 and 21 September 2026.
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