Minister dismisses PN’s call for PMQs: ‘Muscat already under constant scrutiny’

Tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis dismissed a call by the Opposition for the Prime Minister to be grilled by MPs every week, arguing that Joseph Muscat already faces “constant scrutiny”.

However, Opposition MP Francis Zammit Dimech argued that Prime Ministerial Questions will herald in an unprecedented level of parliamentary scrutiny to the prime minister.

The Opposition has proposed that the first half hour of every Wednesday’s parliamentary session be dedicated for Prime Ministerial Questions, a similar style as in the House of Commons.

However, Zammit Lewis insisted in a parliamentary debate that Muscat already faces “constant” scrutiny and that he stands up in the House to directly respond to questions addressed to him.

He also noted that the House of Commons also subjects the Opposition leader to scrutiny when presenting a topic for debate.

“If we are going to talk about introducing one of these systems, then we should talk about introducing them both,” he said. “Our parliamentary question system is a good one, with ministers including the Prime Minister responding to all themes, and the Prime Minister remaining collectively responsible for all his Cabinet. For good or ill, there already exists a lot of media and public scrutiny on what goes on in question time.”

The Opposition has formally requested the introduction of PMQs, through a proposed amendment to a government motion to amend Parliament’s standing orders.

The proposed amendments include fining MPs €50 for not attending parliamentary sittings and slashing MPs’ speeches from a maximum of 40 to 30 minutes.

Opposition MP Francis Zammit Dimech said that a vote by Muscat against PMQs would indicate his fear of parliamentary scrutiny.

“When presenting a parliamentary question to the prime minister, I’ll have no guarantee that it will in the first half hour of the debate, which will give me the chance to ask a follow-up question,” he said. “Moreover, the follow-up question will have to be related to the subject in the PQ. The concept of PMQS is for the prime minister to be subjected to half an hour of open-ended scrutiny on whatever topic MPs want to air – be it the BWSC power station agreement or the reason why he is going to Singapore with Konrad Mizzi and Keith Singapore to see the LNG tanker for the new power station, rather than waiting for it in Malta.

“If Muscat isn’t scared of being questioned by MPs on hot political topics, then he should vote in favour of PMQs.”

Earlier, PN leader Mario de Marco urged Muscat to vote in favour of the Opposition’s call for PMQs, that was tabled as a proposed amendment to a government motion to amend Parliament’s standing orders.

“The Prime Minister surely doesn’t have so much to hide that he is scared of facing questions from MPs every week,” he said, to thumps from the Opposition benches. “I hope he’ll keep his eyes open and vote in favour of this proposal.”