[WATCH] PD MPs to be invited to Opposition parliamentary group meetings

PN MPs say they are open to PD MPs joining their parliamentary groups

The Nationalist Party will start inviting Partit Demokratiku MPs Marlene Farrugia and Godfrey Farrugia to its parliamentary group meetings when they are convened to discuss parliamentary issues.

The PN and the PD will coordinate for voting purposes, with the PD MPs expected to follow the line of the PN’s Whip David Agius.

“This agreement is in the spirit of the way the PN and the PD fought the election campaign as part of a National Force,” the PN said. “The Opposition’s parliamentary group will be strong and effective and will keep Joseph Muscat’s government under constant scrutiny.”

The PN convened this afternoon for its first parliamentary group meeting ahead of the start of the new legislature on Saturday.

Door stepped by MaltaToday as they were walking in to the PN headquarters, many PN MPs - including outgoing deputy leader Mario de Marco, Whip David Agius, Robert Cutajar, Chris Said, Marthese Portelli, Ryan Callus, Hermann Schiavone and Stephen Spiteri refused to disclose their personal opinions on the agreement, arguing that they will be doing so privately during the meeting.

On the other hand, PN MPs Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Frederick Azzopardi and Maria Deguara said they would have no problem with this proposal.

Outgoing PN executive president Ann Fenech said that the PD MPs should join the PN parliamentary group, arguing that they had been elected on the PN ticket as part of the 'Forza Nazzjonali' coalition.

PN MP Clyde Puli said that he would be open to the possibility, but only if the Farrugias agree to fall under the PN whip and follow the same rules as the PN MPs.

"The rules should apply the same for everyone," he said. "You can't be independent one day and part of our parliamentary group the next one."