‘Masters of wit’ too much for MPs drawn into un-parliamentary fracas – Whip

MPs are being provoked into uttering “un-parliamentary words or phrases” by more witty members from the other side of the House, according to government whip Godfrey Farrugia.

“Occasionally certain MPs may be provoked to utter un-parliamentary words or phrases by opposing members who are notable masters in wit and make these MPs victims of their hidden agenda,” Farrugia told MaltaToday, warning that the use of un-parliamentary language was never excusable.

Since the introduction of televised parliamentary debates from the Renzo Piano-designed House of Representatives, more ministers and MPs seem willing to vent  their rage, often to an undesirable result.

“The PL parliamentary group has evaluated the present scenario and will continuously do so. Our intention is that parliamentary debates should be oriented towards a more positive aura, where a consensual approach is the hallmark,” Farrugia said.

But his hopeful wish seems belied by recent actions in the House. 

Two weeks ago, parliamentary secretary Ian Borg caused ‘outrage’ for telling shadow minister Jason Azzopardi that he “got no orgasm” from his repeated questions during PQ time. Perhaps more controversially, Speaker Anglu Farrugia later removed Borg’s remark from the transcripts and issued a stern warning that he would not hesitate to suspend unruly MPs.

But he also said that temperatures in the House had been raised since Parliament moved to its new premises at City Gate, as sessions ere now being broadcast live on television.

But Godfrey Farrugia said live broadcasting had come with its pros and cons.

“It’s offering a better flow of media communication from one of the very estates of democracy and has made Parliament more newsworthy. The coverage is more likely to lead to an improvement in the quality of speeches delivered at the House during a debate, as MPs will be more aware that they are on air.

“Unfortunately, this benefit may be misused by stage-managed airtime, as an MP may purposely side-track from the topic of discussion by not addressing issues of national importance or of common good, or else ignore the fact that a national audience is being addressed and instead focus on constituency matters.”

Despite no longer a rectangular chamber as the one used in the British House of Commons, the new hemi-cycle has lost none of its predecessor’s adversarial atmosphere. Both sides are seated much closer to each other than they were in the President’s Palace.

Farrugia says MPs now can easily hear one-to-one conversations across the floor. “This may trigger undesired and unofficial cross-floor remarks or even disrupt the Speaker’s attention, leading to moments of a rowdy atmosphere where our Latin temperament is very apparent.”

On the other hand, Opposition whip David Agius says that the true reason behind such high temperatures boils down to the government’s insistence not to reply to questions.

“Every time someone from the Opposition asks a question, something which is considered to be the right and duty of a member of the opposition, government members start shouting and calling names at Opposition MPs.

“This attitude is deplorable, and the government must immediately ensure that to be in line with its promise of transparency, questions are replied to without any hesitation.”

Burning down the House

1. Anti-climax at PQ time

Parliamentary secretary Ian Borg is fed up of answering follow-up PQs by Nationalist MP Jason Azzopardi on a boarded-out police officer, so he finally cuts him short by saying he is “getting no orgasm” from his questions. Cue protestations from, somewhat justified, unsatisfied MPs.

2. Unlimited shame from Mizzi

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil gets energy minister Konrad Mizzi’s dander up, so Mizzi starts raging at Busuttil, telling him he’s “not fit for purpose” and repeatedly calling out “shame on you, shame on you, shame on you.” Busuttil retorts that it was Mizzi’s shame that his wife was given a plum €13,000-a-month job as trade envoy.

3. Bolshoi ballet MPs

As Opposition MPs questioned Gozo Minister Anton Refalo over allegations that his ministry was carrying out private works for constituents, accusations start flying between Simon Busuttil and education minister Evarist Bartolo. “You don’t scare me,” Busuttil tells Bartolo, who replies: “I’m simply reminding you of your hypocrisy”. Cue the Prime Minister, who says the Opposition had become “like ballerinas, jumping as soon as you tell them something”. Speaker suspends sitting in ensuing shouting match.

4. Sai it as it is 

Konrad Mizzi is not in the House to reply to PQs on his ministerial visits to Azerbaijan. Not even Godfrey Farrugia knows of his whereabouts, so Busuttil asks that the sitting is suspended until Mizzi returns. Beppe Fenech Adami quips: “we’ve already lost Mizzi’s wife, and now we’ve lost the minister himself”.

5. Don’t say what you want

Busuttil slide-tackles Muscat when the prime minister delivers a ministerial statement on two EU summits, with a replica on the Old Mint Street expropriation scandal. Muscat accuses him of “ridiculing” Parliament for bringing up a national issue unrelated to his statement.