Updated | Partit Demokratiku MPs told to discuss issues regarding time allocation with Opposition whip

Speaker Anglu Farrugia said however that in the event of a request by PD MPs, they would see to it that they were allocated a proportional amount of time

The ruling was requested by PD MP Godfrey Farrugia over the time being allocated to the party's MPs in parliamnent
The ruling was requested by PD MP Godfrey Farrugia over the time being allocated to the party's MPs in parliamnent

Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia this evening told MPs belonging to the Democratic Party (PD) that he was not at liberty to allocate more time to the PD since the constitution only referred to a government and an opposition, which the party forms a part of.

He added however that if the PD MPs felt they were not being allocated enough time for them to express themselves in parliament and made a request to the House, which would in turn see to it that a proportional amount of time is allocated to the party’s MPs.

The ruling was requested by PD MP Godfrey Farrugia, who claimed that since the agreement between the PN and the PD was no longer in force, the PD was not being allocated time for debates by the Opposition whip.

A statement from Partit Demokratiku released this morning confirmed that Farrugia has recognised that the Opposition is composed of two parties, and that the PD is therefore "entitled to speaking time."

PD added that they were pleased to hear that if this guaranteed right to speaking time was not upheld by the Opposition Whip, then the Speaker will "protect the rights of expression of the two Partit Demokratiku MPs on a case by case basis, through a system of proportionality."