Updates to the checks of claims by Johann Buttigieg: new claims, verdicts, report versions and replies. A record, not a score. https://leandergrech.github.io/Mizien/bodies/johann-buttigieg/ 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z Miżien tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-014:2026-10-05:version-1-2:upgrade-planning-authority-annual-reports-2017-2023-read-as-issuu-page-images-and-used-as-the-primary-series-in-place-of-news-reports-10-16-each-value-recorded-with-printed-page-image-url-and-sha-256-1-added-2017-315-notices-about-3-000-complaints-and-2018-219-2-560-gap-2008-and-2012-2018-2008-and-2012-2016-2-2019-notices-228-derived-229-12-p-18-2023-complaints-2-456-2-463-2-456-is-complaints-closed-16-p-23-2020-2023-notices-169-164-180-233-and-2020-complaints-3-313-confirmed-2021-3-192-and-2022-2-804-complaints-added-3-notices-per-100-complaints-29-42-2005-11-and-5-10-2019-24-29-41-rounding-and-5-10-2017-24-4-new-confirmed-cases-2018-2024-with-outcomes-figure-2-1-280-in-2018-against-1-200-1-250-in-2024-so-the-31-to-34-since-2020-is-now-described-as-from-a-2020-21-peak-31-to-36-7-13-notices-per-100-confirmed-cases-new-figure-3-notices-per-100-complaints-figure-1-redrawn-the-2024-only-outcome-chart-is-now-part-of-figure-2-5-added-the-authority-s-stated-policy-notices-only-where-contraveners-are-uncooperative-2018-p-20-2019-p-18-and-a-deterrence-note-daily-fines-since-2012-16-p-24-on-50-78-of-notices-2018-2023-6-sub-claim-d-now-uses-primary-backlog-and-direct-action-figures-73-about-75-years-e-partly-tested-27-135-a-year-2017-2020-7-the-139-more-complaints-in-2020-is-in-the-authority-s-own-2020-report-not-only-in-the-news-report-maltatoday-2021-2024-references-replaced-by-the-primary-reports-references-renumbered-verdict-and-confidence-unchanged 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z

Version 1.2: Upgrade: Planning Authority annual reports 2017–2023 read as Issuu page images and used as the primary series in place of news reports [10–16]; each value recorded with printed page, image URL and SHA-256. (1) Added 2017 (315 notices; about 3,000 complaints) and 2018 (219; 2,560); gap 2008 and 2012–2018 → 2008 and 2012–2016. (2) 2019 notices 228 (derived) → 229 [12, p. 18]; 2023 complaints 2,456 → 2,463 (2,456 is complaints closed) [16, p. 23]; 2020–2023 notices (169, 164, 180, 233) and 2020 complaints (3,313) confirmed; 2021 (3,192) and 2022 (2,804) complaints added. (3) Notices per 100 complaints 29–42 (2005–11) and 5–10 (2019–24) → 29–41 (rounding) and 5–10 (2017–24). (4) New: confirmed cases 2018–2024 with outcomes (Figure 2): ~1,280 in 2018 against ~1,200–1,250 in 2024, so the −31% to −34% since 2020 is now described as from a 2020–21 peak (−31% to −36%); 7–13 notices per 100 confirmed cases. New Figure 3 (notices per 100 complaints); Figure 1 redrawn; the 2024-only outcome chart is now part of Figure 2. (5) Added the Authority’s stated policy (notices “only where contraveners are uncooperative”, 2018 p. 20, 2019 p. 18) and a deterrence note (daily fines since 2012 [16, p. 24]; on 50% → 78% of notices, 2018 → 2023). (6) Sub-claim D now uses primary backlog and direct-action figures (73 → about 75 years); E partly tested (27–135 a year, 2017–2020). (7) The “139 more complaints in 2020” is in the Authority’s own 2020 report, not only in the news report. MaltaToday (2021, 2024) references replaced by the primary reports; references renumbered. Verdict and confidence unchanged.. CC-014, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Misleading (draft, pending right of reply).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-014:2026-10-05:evidence-reviewed 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z

Evidence reviewed. CC-014, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Misleading (draft, pending right of reply).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-014:2026-10-05:version-1-1-corrections:corrections-1-2020-complaints-were-called-the-highest-in-the-series-now-the-highest-we-could-read-after-fy-2004-05-3-705-2-more-than-three-times-as-many-cases-ending-in-a-sanctioning-application-or-removal-as-in-a-notice-about-six-times-521-482-162-6-2-3-2019-complaints-3-174-derived-from-a-news-report-3-134-pa-annual-report-2019-p-17-figure-1-redrawn-17-4-2024-confirmed-cases-1-200-1-200-1-250-and-the-2020-24-change-34-31-to-34-because-the-four-outcome-categories-sum-to-1-252-more-than-the-circa-half-1-206-reported-flyer-settled-by-legalising-applications-to-legalise-applications-not-permits-verdict-and-confidence-unchanged 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z

Version 1.1: corrections: Corrections: (1) 2020 complaints were called “the highest in the series”; now “the highest we could read after FY 2004/05 (3,705)”. (2) “More than three times as many” cases ending in a sanctioning application or removal as in a notice → “about six times” ((521 + 482) / 162 = 6.2). (3) 2019 complaints 3,174 (derived from a news report) → 3,134 (PA Annual Report 2019, p. 17; Figure 1 redrawn) [17]. (4) 2024 confirmed cases ~1,200 → ~1,200–1,250 and the 2020–24 change −34% → −31% to −34%, because the four outcome categories sum to 1,252, more than the “circa half” (1,206) reported. Flyer: “Settled by legalising” → “Applications to legalise” (applications, not permits). Verdict and confidence unchanged.. CC-014, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Misleading (draft, pending right of reply).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-013:2026-10-05:version-1-2:upgrade-1-new-figure-3-and-subsection-comparing-all-27-member-states-eurostat-demo-gind-tipsho10-malta-s-population-growth-2015-2025-is-the-highest-30-9-luxembourg-21-1-its-real-house-price-rise-34-2-provisional-ranks-16th-of-27-below-the-median-state-41-2-germany-france-and-italy-carry-49-of-the-eu-27-index-weight-2-rents-added-hicp-actual-rentals-53-1-vs-eu-20-5-8th-of-27-3-population-growth-fifteen-times-the-eu-s-about-16-times-30-87-1-90-16-3-4-latest-quarter-added-house-prices-6-9-a-year-to-2026-q2-eu-4-7-provisional-5-tl-dr-key-points-tiles-table-q1-q2-sub-claim-c-text-why-limitations-and-flyer-updated-verdict-and-confidence-unchanged-maintainer-decision-5-oct-2026-a-right-of-reply-is-sought-only-where-a-check-finds-a-claim-not-substantiated-misleading-or-contradicted-so-this-check-needs-none-cover-page-footer-and-flyer-now-say-no-right-of-reply-needed 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z

Version 1.2: Upgrade: (1) New Figure 3 and subsection comparing all 27 Member States (Eurostat demo_gind, tipsho10): Malta’s population growth 2015–2025 is the highest (+30.9%; Luxembourg +21.1%), its real house-price rise (+34.2%, provisional) ranks 16th of 27, below the median state (+41.2%); Germany, France and Italy carry 49% of the EU-27 index weight. (2) Rents added (HICP actual rentals): +53.1% vs EU +20.5%, 8th of 27. (3) “Population growth fifteen times the EU’s” → “about 16 times” (30.87% / 1.90% = 16.3). (4) Latest quarter added: house prices +6.9% a year to 2026-Q2 (EU +4.7%; provisional). (5) TL;DR, key points, tiles, table, Q1, Q2, sub-claim C text, Why, Limitations and flyer updated. Verdict and confidence unchanged. Maintainer decision (5 Oct 2026): a right of reply is sought only where a check finds a claim Not substantiated, Misleading or Contradicted, so this check needs none; cover, page footer and flyer now say “no right of reply needed”.. CC-013, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Largely supported (draft, no right of reply needed).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-013:2026-10-05:evidence-reviewed 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z

Evidence reviewed. CC-013, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Largely supported (draft, no right of reply needed).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-013:2026-10-05:version-1-1-corrections:corrections-1-housing-cost-overburden-eurostat-flags-a-break-in-malta-s-series-in-2023-so-1-1-2015-6-0-2025-and-more-than-fivefold-like-for-like-runs-1-1-2-9-2015-2022-and-6-0-5-9-6-0-2023-2025-tl-dr-tiles-figure-2-caption-section-4-table-q2-section-7-limitations-flyer-2-real-house-prices-2015-2025-34-malta-25-eu-now-written-to-checks-csv-by-calc-py-which-previously-held-only-2015-2024-26-21-malta-s-2025-value-marked-provisional-tl-dr-tiles-figure-1-caption-table-34-34-p-table-note-now-states-each-price-row-s-basis-and-period-real-hicp-deflated-to-2025-nominal-to-2024-3-data-cc-013-eurostat-housing-csv-the-second-sts-cobp-a-series-each-year-relabelled-as-m-of-useful-floor-area-it-had-the-dwellings-label-eurostat-flags-recorded-4-q1-the-most-plausible-reason-the-research-supports-this-stated-as-our-inference-not-tested-for-malta-verdict-and-confidence-unchanged 2026-10-05T12:00:00Z

Version 1.1: corrections: Corrections. (1) Housing-cost overburden: Eurostat flags a break in Malta’s series in 2023, so “1.1% (2015) → 6.0% (2025)” and “more than fivefold” → like-for-like runs “1.1% → 2.9% (2015–2022)” and “6.0% → 5.9% → 6.0% (2023–2025)” (TL;DR, tiles, Figure 2 caption, Section 4 table, Q2, Section 7, Limitations, flyer). (2) Real house prices 2015–2025 (+34% Malta, +25% EU) now written to checks.csv by calc.py, which previously held only 2015–2024 (+26%, +21%); Malta’s 2025 value marked provisional (TL;DR, tiles, Figure 1 caption, table “+34%” → “+34% (p)”); table note now states each price row’s basis and period (real, HICP-deflated, to 2025; nominal to 2024). (3) data/cc-013/eurostat_housing.csv: the second sts_cobp_a series each year relabelled as m² of useful floor area (it had the dwellings label); Eurostat flags recorded. (4) Q1: “the most plausible reason … the research supports this” → stated as our inference, not tested for Malta. Verdict and confidence unchanged.. CC-013, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Largely supported (draft, no right of reply needed).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-015:2026-10-04:check-started:worker-a-attempt-1-blocked-on-source-newsbook-24-sep-2026-gives-the-three-weeks-remark-only-in-paraphrase-the-maltese-heralds-video-report-returned-403-and-wayback-was-unreachable-needed-his-exact-words-a-recording-or-transcript-in-literature-cc-015-primary-source-md-the-dates-are-then-a-document-check 2026-10-04T12:00:00Z

Check started: Worker A, attempt 1: blocked on source. Newsbook (24 Sep 2026) gives the 'three weeks' remark only in paraphrase; The Maltese Herald's video report returned 403 and Wayback was unreachable. Needed: his exact words (a recording or transcript) in literature/CC-015/primary-source.md; the dates are then a document check.. CC-015, Governance & Promises.

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-015:2026-10-03:added-to-the-claims-to-check 2026-10-03T12:00:00Z

Added to the claims to check. CC-015, Governance & Promises.

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-014:2026-10-03:added-to-the-claims-to-check 2026-10-03T12:00:00Z

Added to the claims to check. CC-014, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Misleading (draft, pending right of reply).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-014:2026-10-03:version-1-0-first-issue:first-issue-draft-pending-right-of-reply-from-the-planning-authority 2026-10-03T12:00:00Z

Version 1.0: first issue: First issue. Draft pending right of reply from the Planning Authority.. CC-014, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Misleading (draft, pending right of reply).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-013:2026-10-03:added-to-the-claims-to-check 2026-10-03T12:00:00Z

Added to the claims to check. CC-013, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Largely supported (draft, no right of reply needed).

tag:leandergrech.github.io,2026:mizien:CC-013:2026-10-03:version-1-0-first-issue:first-issue-right-of-reply-to-the-planning-authority-not-yet-sent 2026-10-03T12:00:00Z

Version 1.0: first issue: First issue. Right of reply to the Planning Authority not yet sent.. CC-013, Planning & Housing; verdict so far: Largely supported (draft, no right of reply needed).