Speaker Anġlu Farrugia elected chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association

Speaker of the House of Representatives Anġlu Farrugia has been elected as chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association – small branches.

The role of chairperson of small branches is a new officer role for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the new incumbent will sit on the CPA International Executive Committee to bring a voice for small branches to the governing body of the CPA.

The newly elected chairperson pledged that the CPA would have a strengthened and renewed focus on assisting small branches and their parliaments and legislatures.

In his acceptance remarks, Farrugia spoke about the pressing need of small legislations within the Commonwealth to come together, within their smallness to address common difficulties and strengths and share experiences of their parliaments or legislative assemblies. “As a state in the Commonwealth, among other small countries, Malta has learnt to appreciate the strengths of bring a small country: being flexible enough to be able to work with other parliaments, yet big enough to be influential,” he said.

Farrugia also encouraged fellow Parliamentarians to be leaders in understanding their citizens and advocate in the best interest of their countries, both locally and on multilateral levels, especially in contemporary challenges such as youth unemployment and combatting terrorism.

The election of the new chairperson of small branches took place at the 35th CPA Small Branches Conference held in London today as part of the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.

Farrugia currently represents the CPA British Islands and Mediterranean Region on the Standing Committee of the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (2016-2018).