Government wants parliamentary debate on country's institutions on Monday

The Nationalist Party’s parliamentary group will this afternoon decide whether to accept a government proposal for parliament to debate the country’s institutions next Monday.

Last Monday, the Opposition presented a motion in parliament, asking for the House to debate the demands made by Civil Society, in wake of the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. The motion was not accepted by the government, and the speaker ruled that normal business should therefore be resumed.

Speaking during a meeting of the House Business Committee, deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne said the government had taken note of the Opposition’s position, where it had stated that the current situation merited a parliamentary discussion “specifically on how we can continue to strengthen the country’s institutions”.

“I think it is fitting for us to discuss this subject in parliament the way it is being discussed across the country,” said Fearne, adding that parliament had already held many discussions on issues that pertained to the strengthening of the country’s institutions.

He said the government did not agree with the wording of the motion presented by the Opposition, but stressed that it wanted to discuss ways of improving the country’s institutions and the rule of law.

“We are not proposing a debate on the same wording of that motion but rather a discussion on the strengthening of the country’s institutions,” said Fearne.  

Government whip Byron Camilleri, then explained that the government was proposing a debate next Monday, with the first hour and a half allocated to the Opposition, and the second hour and half going to the Government.

Camilleri said the reasoning behind this was for the Government to be able to reply to the accusations put forward by the Opposition.

However, Opposition whip David Agius pointed out that accusations are made in every parliamentary debate, and that there was no reason for the normal system, where Government and Opposition speakers alternate, to be changed.

Agius said he would be putting the government’s proposal to the Nationalist Party parliamentary group later today before committing to the debate.