“Malta rallies against state corruption”. That headline on The Guardian does not only make civil society activists who called yesterday’s march proud, though I can testify to the fact that it does do that. That headline makes everyone in Malta except those personally profiting from corruption proud.

This is how we save face from the embarrassment Joseph Muscat and his gang are causing us in the world. The world understands the crooks are not Malta. Malta is not some island of pirates and crooks. Malta is controlled by a mafia but Malta is not a mafia.

Malta is out in the streets rallying against corruption and fighting organised crime. And that is a good thing.

This is why we do it. Because we love our country and our country deserves to have its name respected worldwide.

Here’s a similar story in Le Monde.