‘Historic’ day as Parliament convenes in Palace for the last time

Parliament is convening in the Grandmaster’s Palace building for the last time before its migration to the new building by Valletta’s entrance after Parliament reconvenes after the Easter holidays.

“This is a historic day,” Speaker Anglu Farrugia said, while admitting that shortcomings have been found in the microphone system in the new Parliament’s House of Representatives. Through this system, MPs will be given electronic cards that they will use before speaking in Parliament. Their names will then light up automatically.

“Some work still needs to be done on the new Parliament building, but today, tests have started on the audiovisual system, on how microphones can identify the MPs using the cards. This sytem has several shortcomings that must be addressed.

“We also tested the web-streaming and TV broadcasting systems, and I aim for all shortcomings to be addressed in two weeks’ time,” Farrugia said.

He added that Parliament is expected to reconvene in the new building on May 4, in a parliamentary sitting that will be preceded by a formal ceremony.