The Cabinet decided yesterday that the 11th Parliament since independence will hold its first sitting on Saturday, May 10, which is effectively the last day the House can be reconvened by law.
According to Article 75 (3) of the Constitution of Malta, "The House of Representatives shall meet not later than two months after the publication of the official result of any general election by the Electoral Commission on a day appointed by the President". This gives the government until Sunday, May 11 to convene Parliament.
Following the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said the agenda of the first sitting will include the election of the Speaker and an address by the President of Malta.
According to parliamentary tradition, the youngest Member of Parliament from the government side will then move a motion thanking the President for his address. The motion will be discussed the following week.
The President's address is drafted in consultation with the government and includes the legislative programme and other government measures planned for the next five years.
Bills pending before the last legislature have to be proposed again and will be debated once again. Among these are laws regarding the central registry, as well as Bills relating to the accountancy profession, finances and financial institutions, Dr Borg said.
Following the casual elections to elect 12 new Members of Parliament - six each for the Nationalist Party and the Malta Labour Party - the government will start discussions with the opposition on a number of issues including the appointment of Speaker of the House and a Deputy Speaker.
Labour leader Alfred Sant, who stepped down soon after the defeat at the general elections, will retain his position as Leader of the Opposition until the party elects a new leader on June 5.
The House of Representatives is also without a Clerk of the House after Richard Cauchi retired on reaching pensionable age. The new Clerk is appointed by the government.
The government and opposition also need to discuss pairing arrangements, under which members of the opposition agree to abstain from voting when government members are away on House business.
Agreement on pairing is vital as the government has a majority of just one MP when a huge amount of travel connected with EU membership will involve ministers and other MPs.
The opposition has the right to refuse a pairing agreement, which would make life extremely difficult for the government.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is inviting nominations for casual elections to fill seats vacated by candidates who gave up a seat after they were elected from two districts.
The casual elections will be held for seats vacated by Robert Arrigo in the ninth district; Evarist Bartolo and Dolores Cristina in the 10th; Tonio Borg in the 11th; Helena Dalli in the third; Michael Falzon in the second; Tonio Fenech in the 12th, Lawrence Gonzi in the second; Charles Mangion in the sixth; Jeffrey Pullicino in the seventh; Alfred Sant in the eighth and George Vella in the fifth.
Nominations will be received at the Office of the Electoral Commission, Evans Buildings, St Elmo Square, Valletta from tomorrow to Saturday between 9 a.m. and noon.
Nomination forms are obtainable from the Electoral Office during office hours.