A recent Politico feature has painted a damning portrait of Malta under former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, describing a decade of explosive growth that left the island mired in corruption, overdevelopment and political decay.The article opens in the chaotic nightlife district of Paceville, a symbol, it says, of the “moral decay” brought on by years of misrule. They continued, saying since Muscat’s election in 2013, Malta has transformed into a hub for the ultra-rich, with construction cranes dominating its skyline and developers reshaping the landscape with little oversight. While the boom made many Maltese wealthier, critics argue it came at the expense of the environment, governance and public trust.At the heart of Politico’s investigation lies the Vitals Global Healthcare scandal, a failed 2015 deal to privatise three public hospitals. The €456 million project, intended to modernise Malta’s healthcare system, was later found to be “fraudulently contrived,” with prosecutors alleging kickbacks to top officials, including Muscat, his former chief of staff Keith Schembri and ex-minister Konrad Mizzi. All deny wrongdoing.The case, which has dragged on since charges were filed in 2024, is seen by activists as a test of whether Malta can finally hold its political elite accountable. But progress has been slow, marred by leaks, procedural blunders and allegations of interference between police and the judiciary. Critics fear the trial could collapse entirely, reinforcing what Politico calls Malta’s “culture of impunity.”The shadow of assassinated journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who first exposed irregularities in the hospital deal before her 2017 assassination, looms large. Her family and civil society groups argue that true justice remains elusive, despite multiple convictions for her murder.Prime Minister Robert Abela, Muscat’s successor, has defended his government’s reforms and dismissed accusations of systemic corruption, but the Politico report suggests the political machine Muscat built still dominates Malta’s institutions and economy.The article concludes on a bleak note: Malta’s transformation into a playground for investors may have secured short-term prosperity, but it also left the island beholden to private interests. As one activist told Politico, “While these people are being brought to trial, it’s also the system itself being brought to trial.”What do you make of this?•