31 Facts About Owen Bonnici

Owen Bonnici previously served as Parliamentary Secretary for Justice, Minister for Justice, Culture and Local Government, Minister for Education and Employment, and Minister Equality, Research and Innovation.

Owen Bonnici is on record stating that culture and the arts can be at the forefront of global efforts against climate change.

Owen Bonnici served as Opposition Spokesperson for Youth and Culture and subsequently for Higher Education, University, Research and Culture and voiced against issues like censorship and advocated for other liberal issues.

Owen Bonnici served as Opposition Spokesperson for Youth and Culture and subsequently for Higher Education, University, Research and Culture and voiced against issues like censorship and advocated for other liberal issues.

Owen Bonnici was elected again in the 2017 and the 2022 general elections.

Owen Bonnici was responsible for a number of initiatives undertaken during the legislature, including the Whistleblowers' Act, Justice Reform and the Individual Investors' Program.

When Malta's whistleblower laws were ranked second in European Union, Owen Bonnici had tweeted and Times of Malta reported: It is very easy to speak about the rule of law.

Owen Bonnici undertook strong reforms in the field of drug laws in order to stop treating victims of drug abuse as criminals but rather as people who need care and assistance to quit.

Owen Bonnici said that his reform was overall guided by common sense.

We could have done nothing at all on drugs, but we have decided to take a decision and publish a white paper which is practical and clear, Owen Bonnici said about it.

Owen Bonnici launched Teatru Malta a new theater project that aimed to create new content for people in the country.

Owen Bonnici successfully oversaw Valletta's tenure as the European capital for culture in 2018.

In 2015, Owen Bonnici replaced the local enforcement system that was known to be maligned and replaced it with a new agency that would eventually become a regulatory authority.

Owen Bonnici launched a Party financing act along with then Law Commissioner Franco Debono for increased transparency and accountability that would reduce abuse by political parties and candidates.

Owen Bonnici inaugurated MICAS, Malta's first international contemporary art museum, describing it as a 'cultural legacy'.

Teatru Manoel which Owen Bonnici describes as an 'invaluable cultural site' continues to uphold its rich legacy.

An area that is seeing significant investment, under Owen Bonnici's helm, is restoration.

Owen Bonnici is a strong advocate of the important role of culture and the arts in the fight against climate change.

When Malta's whistleblower laws were ranked second in European Union, Owen Bonnici had tweeted and Times of Malta reported: It is very easy to speak about the rule of law.

Owen Bonnici undertook strong reforms in the field of drug laws to stop treating victims of drug abuse as criminals but rather as people who need care and assistance to quit.

Owen Bonnici said that his reform was overall guided by common sense.

Owen Bonnici led a Constitutional reform that would amend the constitution and bring reforms on how judicial appointments are made and more.

Owen Bonnici presented a legislative proposal in September 2016 that allowed people who were undergoing police interrogation to have a lawyer of their preference.

Owen Bonnici's pushed forward an initiative that reduced the litigation period over disputed properties by multiple heirs.

In 2017, Minister Owen Bonnici announced that the chairperson of regulatory bodies and politically appointed representatives in foreign countries would go through a consultative parliamentary committee grilling procedure and the scrutiny will be made publicly available prior to their appointment.

Owen Bonnici was reported to be in favour of the proposed amendments to the 1979 Housing Decontrol Ordinance.

Owen Bonnici believed those were fair to both tenants and land-owners.

In 2023, While addressing the 42nd session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris, Minister Owen Bonnici emphasized Malta's firm commitment to peace, multilateralism and unity and solidarity among nations.

In March 2017, at a European conference titled 'Cultural Diplomacy: Fostering International Cultural Dialogue, Diversity and Sustainability' which was held in Malta as part of its Presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, Owen Bonnici highlighted Malta's belief that our different cultures are fundamental bridges that can bring us together in new ways by strengthening our relationships through understanding.

On 30 January 2020, the Constitutional Court of Malta ruled that Minister of Justice Owen Bonnici had breached the human rights of protesters for justice for Daphne Caruana Galizia following the clearing at the foot of the Great Siege Monument throughout 2018 and 2019 during the evenings.

Owen Bonnici defended himself by saying that the clearings took place a full year after the horrific murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, in line with obtaining practice elsewhere in Europe and that the protestors themselves had retracted an action of the issuing of a prohibitory injunction when the monument started being cleared at the day's end, as all other national monuments.