Monday, 5th May 2008 - 17:52CET
Louis Galea to be nominated Speaker
Former minister Louis Galea is to be nominated Speaker when the new session of Parliament opens on Saturday, the Prime Minister has announced.
Dr Galea will serve for at least two months until the post is discussed with the new leader of the opposition after the MLP leadership election. The government has invited the opposition to nominate one of its MPs as Speaker, subject to a pairing agreement. Dr Gonzi said that should no agreement be reached in those talks, Dr Galea will remain in the Chair for the legislature. He was, however, prepared to step down if agreement was reached.
Dr Gonzi said the government was prepared to see Labour MP Carmelo Abela retain his post as Deputy Speaker for these two months but it would expect him to step down if no agreement was reached by that time on pairing, since the appointment of an Opposition MP as Deputy Speaker was always linked to a pairing agreement.
The opposition has said that for the coming two months it will consider pairing on a case by case basis. Pairing is an arrangement whereby opposition MPs are 'paired' to government MPs and will not vote in the House if the government MPs are away on official business.
Dr Galea was an MP from 1976 until the last elections, when he was surprisingly not returned.
He was a minister in all Nationalist governments since 1987, holding the portfolios of social policy, home affairs and more recently, education.
Dr Galea was an active member of the student movement in his university days and headed the PN youth movement before serving as party general secretary between 1977 and 1987, where he distinguished himself for his organisational skills.
Dr Galea succeeds Anton Tabone, who served as Speaker for two terms.
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And by the way if you have short memory just ask somebody to remind you what PN did between 1996-1998 when labour had a majority of nearly 8000 votes but only one seat more in parlament
51% did not vote for Labour, and they did not vote for PN either. The majority of the population is currently not represented by the party governing the island. It is neither represented in the party serving as opposition. Since in Malta, God forbid we should come with a solution similar to what is in force in Germany right now (both the big parties share the government), we have a situation where effectively the minority is ruling. This doesn't mean that the majority chose MLP. It means that the majority did not chose PN, and PN has an obligation also the majority of the population.
We should stop this discussion from descending into vile partisan banalities, "mine is better than yours".
Thank you for your lessons about the constitution (Karta tal-Incova?) and discrimination.
@ Charles Marsh
That's the spirit...Tell PN "don't you dare ask for co-operation"...keep on being the "NO" party.
While there are issues i am not happy with, the PN government has always worked for the people and taking us into Europe is their biggest triumph. Labour have complained and played the NO game going as far as to committing political suicide in 1996 by calling an election that clearly showed Malta did not want an MLP government.
Sort out your house, elect a respectable leader then maybe you will get your turn to govern this country and in the process give voters the alternative government that Malta deserves. In the meantime stop these sour grapes!
And please all of you die hard PN supporters don't mention 1996 as you used all resources so that labour could not govern. Now it's our turn!!!
It is amusing (and terrifying) that you call Dr Gonzi's offer for an MLP-nominated speaker arrogance. It is very rich coming from you and your background.
@ Paul Vella
Please carry out your research well. In 1996 PN in opposition accepted a pairing agreement with a PN deputy speaker (Michael Bonnici) while the speaker was MLP (Myriam Spiteri Debono). Now Dr Gonzi is arrogant enough (ask Ronnie Pellegrini) to propose an MLP speaker.
As I did with others (who opted for silence), I challenge you to discover what happened 1997 and publish it. You will find a best practice case of arrogance. It will make MLP blush.
Are we going to contest that point also now ?
regards the speaker, i expected the government to practice what it preached, and appoint one of it's MPs as speaker. So many frustrated ex-ministers, they would have been spoilt for choice.
But I have to give it to GonziPN: it's true: flimkien kollox huwa possibli. As long as you are part of that circle making up the flimkien! How about that for an inclusive style of governance?
These actions are either being taken out of sheer panic due to the wafer thin majority, or else are well and truly arrogant.
With the right leader, Labour needn't worry too much (as long as play their strategic cards right) - looks like this legislature is going to be a right shambles and parliament hasn't started meeting yet.
It is incredible that you guys cannot get over these simple facts! What comforts me is that your arrogance stems from your utter bitterness for losing - yet again.
Well done PM Gonzi for having the courage to accept Alfred Sant’s proposal, and for finding a good soul like Dr. Louis Galea who is ready to accept the responsibility of Speaker of the House for an initial temporary period of two months or until MLP get their act together.
Imagine that … Dr. Louis Galea is humble enough to accept the post of Speaker of the House knowing fairly well that in two months time an MLP new leader might realise that PM Gonzi’s offer concerns one of the most prestigious public offices in our country and accepts the offer.
MLP now has no more excuses on this issue given that their ‘temporary solution proposal’ has been accepted. Let us now wait for the 5 June 2008, or maybe a few weeks after the MLP Leader election, for a sign of hope for a new MLP.
It was a pity that Dr.Galea was not elected this election. I will also be in favour if he is nominated for President. He is a man of integrity and respect, and who did serve the whole nation.
Are you aware what happened in 1996?
MLP Government appointed Not Myriam Spiteri Debono( MLP, not MP) as speaker while the PN Opposition accepted a pairing agreement. True or not? So how do you explain your current reaction?
Please don't keep on confirming that MLP is the "No" party.
After all between 1996 and 98 PN said no to pairing... so MLP would only follow their exmaple, nothing more nothing less.
And as for Mr Galea... not so much of a surprise. Good point R. Borg
However the electors refused to re elect him, but this 'Govt for the boys' does not in any way take note of the message by the voters who gave Galea a whipping. Labour should not forget the hard time it was given when in Office and the withdrawal of the pairing agreement when it suited the PN. Tit for tat, men.
Emmanuel Attard Bezzina June, 1971 - September, 1976
Nestu Laiviera September, 1976 - January, 1978
Kalċidon Agius January, 1978 - February, 1982
Daniel Micallef February, 1982 - July, 1986
Paul Xuereb July, 1986 - February, 1987
Joseph M. Baldacchino February, 1987 - May, 1987
Myriam Spiteri Debono October, 1996 - August, 1998