Speaker confirms government voted against MCESD motion

Speaker Michael Frendo gave credence to a statement made by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat last Sunday, saying that government had voted against a motion calling for the expansion of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD).

In January 2011, Labour MP Gino Cauchi had moved a parliamentary motion calling for the inclusion of Forum Unions Maltin (Forum) and the Gozo Business Chamber into the MCESD. The motion did not pass with 34 MPs in favour and 35 against.

Last week Muscat said government had voted against the motion, and in a reaction on Sunday evening, government issued a statement denying having ever voted against such motion.

But this evening in Parliament, Cauchi asked Speaker Michael Frendo to give a ruling and state whether government had voted in favour or against.

Frendo, who said that it was not his role to be involved in a political controversy, noted in the minutes that government had indeed voted against.