Government to change way Parliament functions failing pairing agreement

The government was prepared to change the way Parliament functions so that, while its scrutiny by the opposition would continue, the government would be able to implement its mandate in Europe and beyond without hindrance, PN deputy leader Tonio Borg said yesterday.

He was referring to pairing in Parliament when he closed the first session of the Nationalist Party's general council at the Westin Dragonara in St Julians.

Dr Borg, who is expected to be confirmed deputy leader tomorrow - the post was not contested - when the general council on the election result continues, said the government wanted to open Parliament further to the scrutiny of the people.

He added, no one should harbour any thoughts about hindering the government's legislative programme and its work in the EU and at international organisations.

The government would leave no stone unturned to reach agreement (with the opposition) and it has already offered the post of Speaker of the House to be nominated by the opposition from among Labour MPs. This was a historic and unique step in the constitutional and political history of the island. The opposition has not accepted the offer, Dr Borg said.

The government believed that pairing had clear and strict parameters which are natural in the local system, he said, adding that if this did not materialise, the government would change the way Parliament worked.

Pairing is an arrangement where opposition MPs are 'paired' to government MPs and would not vote in the House if government MPs are away on official business. The opposition has said it will consider pairing on a case by case basis until a new MLP leader is elected on June 5.

Addressing the general council, which is the first since the March 8 general election, outgoing general secretary Joe Saliba dwelt on the reasons why the MLP lost and the PN won the election.

The council should serve to analyse what the electorate said through their vote, to see where the PN had succeeded and what could have been done better. Another function of the council was to look forward towards the next legislature.

The PN should be the spur that drives the government to implement its electoral programme.

But, he added, an analysis would not be effective if one did not look back at the past five years.

Five years ago, the government won the referendum and soon after the general election. After a few weeks, Malta joined the EU and after that, it lost a majority in the elections for the European Parliament; a great shock for the PN.

After all these successes, the PN experienced this loss and it is important this won't be forgotten.

Mr Saliba referred to reforms carried out by the government and the introduction of the euro, a few months before the start of the electoral campaign, which he described as a bold step which could have left a negative effect on the election.

The PN had lost all the elections for local councils that were held in the last five years.

An analysis was important so that the PN would not have to pass through these experiences in the next five years.

But, he added, it was a mistake that these results were linked to the general election. A lot of time was lost by the PN to try to come up with reasons to explain this development.

"We are serial winners, because we won an election after the other," Mr Saliba said. The PN had won because it acknowledged it could lose and stayed on the alert. It did not say it was going to win but worked on each vote because each vote counted.

"We chased every single vote," he said as he boasted of a dynamic leader and an electoral programme with a lot of commitment.

The MLP lost because it started the race as the winning party. Another reason was that it had abandoned the principles for which it had been created. It had lost the soul which really made the MLP, the MLP, Mr Saliba said.

The MLP was still going through confusion as it has not yet realised that the change which it needed was that of attitude.

"Let us act as the party in government and not in the opposition. We should not imitate the opposition.

"The PN should not let anyone intimidate it. Since 1981, the PN had won all the major elections.

"The answer to those who query what would happen now that the government has only a one-seat majority should be that wealth will be created."

A third wish by Mr Saliba was that the PN would have the courage to continue its renewal.

The general council continues tomorrow when it will be wrapped up by Prime Minister and party leader Lawrence Gonzi.