Speaker explains decision to cast decisive vote
The Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives explained this afternoon that the Chair exercised its casting vote yesterday in line with parliamentary practice to retain the motion before the House in its original vote.
Two votes on amendments to a motion on the creation of a Select Committee to draft regulations on assisted procreation ended in a tie of 32 votes in favour and 32 against.
The Speaker's office said that the votes were on amendments moved by both the governemnt and the opposition. Both were rejected as a result of the Speaker's decisive vote.
The government's original motion was then approved after the government achieved a majority (when Nationalist MP Franco Debono returned to the Chamber).
The Speaker's Office said that according to Erskine May (regarded throughout the Commonwealth as the 'bible' of parliamentary practice) in circumstances such as those seen yesterday, the Chair should always vote in a manner than the original motion was retained in its original form. Furthermore, the Speaker should always vote so that, if possible, debate could continue and, where further discussion was not possible, the ultimate decision should not be taken unless backed by a majority of MPs.
That was what happened yesterday.
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g.c.Forte
Dec 16th 2009, 11:47
@ Peter Bonnici....I know that my comments sometimes are hard to understand, because I have to be careful how to write, otherwise the editor will ban my comments ( and he will be right ). I am going to try to explain what I wish to say in a very simple notes. How many of the Members in parliament from both sides are there because they love so much our country ? To get a seat in parliament is very difficult, so once you get it, you will make sure that you do not lose it, "akkost ta kollox" .
Joe E Galea
Dec 16th 2009, 07:29
@ J Busuttil: Just to remind you that the kaxxa ta' Malta ilha mifquha bid-dejn since 1990's. The hole in the bucket gets larger and larger everyday under PN governments.
The point is that the omore the GonziPN stays in power the lower and lower we will be sinking, then PL or someone else in power won't make any diffrence. The only thing that would save us will be that we end up as a colony of some richer country.
@all PN apologists: Just face reality and realise that your government and party is just in a deep mess. Gonzi and his clique should read the sign on the wall, that they are not wanted at all not even by their peers.
Joe Portelli
Dec 16th 2009, 05:25
@ Mr Speaker
You acted properly, you explained properly and you have done all that could be done for the good of Parliament and the country.
I happen to believe that your action was not Political.
Dennis Zammit
Dec 15th 2009, 20:24
Apart from all the talking and comments, one must agree that the problem is not the 1 seat majority (same as in 1987 for 5 years), neither the lack of pairing (as correct planning can go around this situation), but the clearly visible counter position the youngest and newest PN MP, Franco Debono has towards the same fellow party MP and Govt.
Dr Franco Debono should well know that no one is an island . . . especially on an island so small!!
Regretfully, people knowing Dr Debono say that he is thirsty for power. I think that he is in the wrong location and politics is not power but sagrifices and respect towards fellow citizens.
Although maybe just heard say about pressure from the PN parliamentary group, we citizens who voted for the PN in Govt. should be assured that no cowboys are allowed to ruin the go work that has been down and still needs to be done.
Prime Minister, you are in command.
M. Farrugia
Dec 15th 2009, 19:19
Hafna mill-kummenti li ghaddew certa nies jistaw jissejhu bhala 'gheneb qares' u esprimew dak li jixtiequ għax iddejqu għal snin kbar fl-opposizzjoni.
E. Zammit
Dec 15th 2009, 18:23
The time is not ripe yet for the PL to hope for power. Firstly, they better hope to be elected to Goverment by means of an election in its appropiate time and manner. Only then, they will have obtained the respect of the people and not merely by obtaining it through the failure of the PN Goverment ! It is useless hoping for a slip up by the present PN Goverment, because it won't happen.
Secondly, if Dr. Joseph Muscat continues to act the way he is doing now, he will loose any hope of gaining enough of the much needed respect and support of people like myself, who are carefully watching every step he makes to judge his ability to become our Prime Minister.
So far, I must confess that he has failed to impress me miserably. The reason I believe is, that he is still way too young and mostly inexperienced.
Peter Bonnici
Dec 15th 2009, 17:53
@ g.c. forte. I'm sure that many here might agree with you if only they could understand what you're on about :-(
J Portelli
Dec 15th 2009, 17:42
@A Attard
A government is in denial is when it fails to understand and/or take appropriate action to address its own impotence manifested in its failure to muster a majority vote in parliament.
Are we suggesting that this did not happen yesterday? If yes, then we're in denial.
And when this happens, which it did (for those who want to accept reality as it is) means that the person leading this Government, this prime minister, is hostage to situations and/or individuals.
Prime Ministers do not accept to be hostaged. The ball is usually in their court.
jbusuttil
Dec 15th 2009, 16:53
To all PL bloggers wishful thinking. Can't you see that PL and its leader are not even prepared to govern mhux ahjar the PN will make its full term and may be PL will be prepared in the years to come. The country firstly has to see an opposition who has got ideas for this country till now no ideas what so ever. The only thing we know is that we have a chance to become richer by being paid back registration tax, lower w & e rates, a lot of other free services while il-kaxxa ta'Malta tinfaqa. PL please tell us how we are going to generate wealth from work.
L. Calleja
Dec 15th 2009, 16:48
@Paul Gauci
I agree and this applies aswell to the leader of the opposition.
g.c.Forte
Dec 15th 2009, 16:37
Most of the people on the streets do not know how you politicians ( from both parties )arrange things so you guarantee your seats in parliament. If a government call an early election,means that any of you might lose your seat, before the 5 years program. How many people knows that what happened yesterday was a farce, because a decisive vote was taken by a person ( the speaker) who was not elected by the electorate. What would had happened if the P.L. accepted that the speaker will be from the opposite side. What had happened last night it showed that the opposition are giving the pairing. It has to be one of the P.N. members dr. Franco Debono to show what is happening in parliament.
A.Attard
Dec 15th 2009, 16:24
The government would have been in denial, if the motions were for a confidence vote like in 1998 and not on a motion to create a Select Committee. What was the reason of the opposition to vote against these motions?
D. Xerri
Dec 15th 2009, 16:24
Totally and Completely agree with you J.Portelli. We have an instable government that lost control not only over the country`s governance but also on its own members of parliament. We havent heard Dr Austin Gatt this time saying that the Government has 5 extra members of parliament so it can move on ! Its so clear to see - the more this government stays in government is the more this government and its party will loose Big Time in the coming future !
Paul Gauci
Dec 15th 2009, 16:11
More than anything ... there is an MP who has to grow up out of his childish beahaviour
J Portelli
Dec 15th 2009, 16:05
"That was what happened yesterday".....is it the intention to downplay what happened yesterday? Is it a commn occurance that a Govt fails to muster a parliamentary majority?
NOEL DARMANIN
Dec 15th 2009, 16:03
ISSA ISBAH,GVERN BLA MAGGORANZA ANKE FIL PARLAMENT,IRREZENJA DR GONZI U HABBAR ELEZZJONI.MINTIX TINDUNA LI ANKE N NIES TIEGHEK QED JISSKREDETAWK..
J Portelli
Dec 15th 2009, 15:52
beyond all the technicalities the point is simple - this government is in denial.