Opposition to present motion against Speaker's ruling

The Opposition will present a motion contesting a ruling delivered by Speaker Anglu Farrugia following a verbal argument between backbencher Joe Debono Grech and independent MP Marlene Farrugia.

Farrugia has denied accusing Debono Grech of being "corrupt" while Debono Grech agreed with the Speaker to withdraw the threat made against the MP when he said he would "come and beat you up".

Because a ruling cannot be contested during its delivery, the Opposition opted to walk out of the House in a show of protest, following which it called a press conference to explain its position.

No questions were taken.

"Despite the threat made against Marlene Farrugia, it was to our utmost surprise that the Speaker placed Joe Debono Grech and Marlene Farrugia in the same basket," Busuttil said, surrounded by his parliamentary group.

"The Speaker's ruling affects the whole of parliament and we refuse to be associated with people such as Debono Grech, whose attitude does fit a pigsty."

Busuttil added that the "condemnable and intolerable actions" by government MPs have been going on since the beginning of the legislature. "This is what we face every time we criticise or disagree with the government," Busuttil said. "The show we had on Friday in parliament proves that the Oppostion had not been crying wolf."

Busuttil said Debono Grech's was doubly serious since the threat was addressed to a woman, by a man.
"How can the two be treated in the same way?"