Tuesday, 24th June 2008 - 21:26CET

Opposition grants pairing for WSC vote

The Opposition, for the first time in this legislature, granted pairing in the House of Representatives this evening.

The pairing was over a vote on the estimates of the Water Services Corporation. Two ministers, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and Resources Minister George Pullicino, are away on government business.

Opposition whip Joe Mizzi in confirming pairing, said this was in line with what the opposition had said about collaboration in national matters.

Pairing is an arrangement where opposition MPs are "paired" with government MPs and do not vote in the House when government MPs are away on official business.

The government only has a one-seat majority in the House, although the Speaker has a casting vote.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Monday, November 23, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Anthony A. Mifsud (on 25/6/08)

Dear Mr. Borg Cardona,
Have you ever imagined that the PN would do a similar thing like give a hand to Govt, by giving the PN the Pairing?

Yes, I am surprised that No PN said a word or commented about these New prices

Anthony A. Mifsud (on 25/6/08)

Sur Cutajar,
You took my comment, what surprise most is that wasn't a Nationalist that conplained about the Sawage bills that we are about to get!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Veru?

Remember when Freddu wanted to adjust these tarifs? all hell broke loss.

Toni

EMMANUEL ZAMMIT (on 25/6/08)

Someone have go0d sense!!
Now we will see on the issue of the New Presedent what they will do..

John Schembri (on 25/6/08)

A ray of hope.

Andrew Borg-Cardona (on 25/6/08)

The suprising thing is that MLP supporters think this is such a special event.

Joseph Scicluna (on 25/6/08)

those who have given their vote to the Labour Party in the last election were not expecting the party to agree to any pairing agreement ..their aim was to elect a Labour Goverment .!!!

Keith Chircop (on 24/6/08)

Alfred Sant's opposition was the opposition of NO to anything and everything PN said, even if they were in agreement. Joseph Muscat is smart enough to know that behaviour was childish.

V Marmara (on 24/6/08)

Any Nationalist to say anything?!!

Brothers and Sisters just realize that with Joseph as the Labour Leader a new generation of politics has started. A Labour leader were in just few days visited PN headquarters 2 times, a Labour leader where he said what the government did right in these 100 days ....... this is the new generation that the people want!!

cutajar lee (on 24/6/08)

i am surprised !!! not because of the agreement regarding the pairing, but cause no nationalist supporter have commented anything yet !!!

J. Borg (on 24/6/08)

This is illogical ...
If a bill or proposal makes sense, it should be approved across party lines.
Surely there are more areas of consensus apart from parliamentarians' own hefty pensions!