Speaker's vote sees motions through
Option of full-time MPs being considered
Two government motions were yesterday carried through Parliament only on the strength of casting votes by the Speaker after amendments proposed by the opposition resulted in a tie, with 32 votes in favour and 32 against.
This is thought to have been the first time since the days of the 1996-1998 Sant administration that the government failed to muster a majority in the House. The government currently has a one-seat majority in the 69-member House. It had a five-seat majority in the previous legislature.
One of the motions was to set up a select committee to discuss the drafting of a law on assisted procreation and the other was to make recommendations on the re-codification of the Laws of Malta.
The government had proposed that the committee on assisted procreation should be chaired by government MP Jean-Pierre Farrugia while the committee on the re-codification of the laws be chaired by government MP Franco Debono. In both cases, the committee members were to be two MPs each from the government and the opposition.
However, Labour MP Anġlu Farrugia moved amendments for the committees to be chaired by the Speaker so that the two sides of the House could then be equally represented by two MPs each.
Backbencher Dr Debono re-turned to the Chamber before the final votes were taken and the motions as proposed by the government were then approved with 33 government votes in favour and 32 against after a vote where, following an opposition request, every MP declared his vote.
The original vote on each amendment was 32 votes for and 32 against, with the government side missing the votes of Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino (currently in Brussels) and Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici (in Paris), and Dr Debono. The absent opposition members were Charles Buhagiar and Joe Debono Grech.
Faced by the unusual situation, which he could have solved by simply giving his casting vote, Mr Speaker Louis Galea said he would retire to consider his decision. Opposition MP Anġlu Farrugia immediately reminded him that the opposition's proposed amendments concerned him personally.
When the House reconvened, the Speaker said that as per established procedure, his casting vote must ensure that the motion remain in its original format and leave space for more discussion. It would only pass if it rallied a majority vote. He ruled that the amendment had fallen through.
Opposition MP Alfred Sant asked if there was a precedent of this in the House.
Dr Galea referred back to 1998, in the case of a motion of no confidence. He said he was using the same arguments today.
To another point raised by Dr Sant, Dr Galea said the Speaker's ruling could not be discussed. The standing orders laid down how rulings could be debated. Dr Sant said he was not contesting the ruling, but just requesting a clarification. Mr Speaker ruled him out of order, even because the House was in a stage of voting.
Dr Sant asked that it be put on the record that the clarification he had requested had not been forthcoming.
An amendment moved by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, that the committees conclude their work within three months of their appointment, was similarly carried.
The new committees will be headed by Nationalist MPs Jean-Pierre Farrugia and Franco Debono respectively.
Winding up the debate, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said the two motions aimed at making better use of parliamentarians. Both committees were technical and could seek expert advice.
The committee on the re-codification of laws had the support of the Justice Unit and the Attorney General. This codification was important for ease of reference and to come in line with the continental model.
Dr Borg stressed the need of regulating the assisted procreation sector while promoting the new scientific techniques to help couples have children. The committee needed the advice of technical experts to be able to produce its report.
Parliamentary work had in-creased so much that he was considering the option of full-time MPs, as had been suggested by Evarist Bartolo (PL).
Parliamentary committees eased part of this work. Other such committees could be appointed.
Earlier, Ċensu Galea (PN) said that the select committee on the codification of laws should propose that parliamentary privileges be repealed.
The House rose for the Christmas recess and will meet again on January 11. The Speaker joined the government and the opposition in wishing the season's greetings to all.
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Lawrence Gauci
Dec 16th 2009, 10:56
In my opinion this is a hurdle the government should face head on and carry out a vote of confidence, however the government will definitely go round this hurdle rather than try and overcome it.
karl borg
Dec 15th 2009, 21:48
Ghal li jista jkun qedghin 1998, ghax l-istess affarijiet qed jigru. Warrab sur Gonzi u halli lil partit laburista immexxi min Joseph Muscat imexxi l-pajjiz. Wara mariza u joe grima issa jmiss lilek Dr.Debono. Ejja maghna, qed turi li ghamilt zball li hrigt kandidat mal PN postok huwa fil--PL ghax dawk jaqbzu ghal poplu.
O. Grech
Dec 15th 2009, 21:30
But are we really serious? Are we so blind? Are we still so partisan? Are we really in these extreems that we want power so much that any news we turn it into a way to try to gain power? The government had 2 ministers who were abroad...ON WORK on BEHALF of MALTA and not on a cruise or eating a hamburger abroad. The other person was not at parliament, like after all 2 members of MLP. So should Joseph Muscat resign too? I say no but with the same measures not even Dr. Gonzi. This news is no news at all. And if Franco Debono wanted to show that he does not agree with the government, I m sure he would have chosen a different vote rather than the vote on his appointment on a committee. Secondly this was not a vote of convidence like Alfred Sant had done. So please show that we can be a mature country. Dear labour show that you truly changed and want the good of us Maltese and YOU should stop creating this incertainty.
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Dec 15th 2009, 19:42
Things appear clearer now. Franco Debono, according to a PN statement, was present and did vote so no need for explanations.
Manuel Micallef
Dec 15th 2009, 18:06
I don't really care about what happens within PN - that is for them to sort out.
What I care is whether we have a stable government or not. It seems we don't. If we don't then will Gonzi put the interest of his party first or that of the country?
Hanging on to power for another 3 years with an unstable government will ruin the country. If he loves Malta, he should call an election....
Patrick Sacco
Dec 15th 2009, 17:49
@ L.Dimech
"one is left with no alternative but to believe that it is not true these people go out for election to serve their country and party, but to serve themselves out of greed for power and to line their pockets."
Eureka! Another one has seen the light! Yes they all go out to SERVE US! U halluna! The last MEP Election was my eye-opener. They are all the same - LPN.
N.Calleja
Dec 15th 2009, 16:01
One is still expecting an official statement by the PN or its whip explaining the reason why one of its members was not in the House when two motions were being voted. Franco Debono himself owns an explanation for his absence. He was voted into Parliament by his electors who deserve an explanation. He has lately been considered as rebel within the Nationalist group,so his explanation carries more weight. This incident is an eye-opener at election time. One should trust true parliamentarians and not political cowboys. Those of a certain age know very well past similar episodes
victor zarb
Dec 15th 2009, 15:32
It now seems very clear that the gonzi administration has fallen to pieces and also is in a state of enormous panic ,although everything is trying to kept secret,which obviously isn t succeeding because nowadays few fools are left to roam.
What worries me most about what happened yesterday is that the pn seems to forget that we are in 2009, i mean shouldn t we all be progressive in parliament?
Anyway the hero of the day is Louis! hip hip hurray,we nearly lost everything today! hey hey
Joss Galea
Dec 15th 2009, 15:15
@Fred Mallia
X'int drammatiku!!!!
V Caruana
Dec 15th 2009, 14:51
Dr Galea referred back to 1998, in the case of a motion of no confidence. He said he was using the same arguments today.
History repeats itself! They said that in 1998 Dr. Sant was wrong.
GEORGE CUTAJAR
Dec 15th 2009, 14:43
Franco Debono MP should publicly explain his absence from this vote and if no justification is forthcoming than the Nationalist Party should take any and all action it deems fit.
Being an MP is a position of utmost responsability and and should not be taken lightly.
C. Micallef
Dec 15th 2009, 13:47
Excellent...full time MP's and then many do not turn up in Parliament for over 50% of the debates and still get paid.
L. Dimech
Dec 15th 2009, 13:40
Why was Dr. Debono missing when the voting took place?
Somebody needs to tell parliamentarians that they are there on the strength of the party's followers and paid from the people's coffers. If they want to be there in their own name they should stand for elections as Independent Candidates - then yes, they can do whatever tickles their fancy. But as long as they stand for a Party then NOTHING SHOULD TICKLE THEIR FANCY. They have to toe party lines.
In the absence of their sensitivity towards their voters, or in the case they want to play the Primadonna, one is left with no alternative but to believe that it is not true these people go out for election to serve their country and party, but to serve themselves out of greed for power and to line their pockets. Five years are short and the Maltese electorate has matured immensely - the last few elections should quickly prove that. Moreover WE DO NOT FORGET WHO TOOK OUR VOTE AND RAN.
fred mallia
Dec 15th 2009, 13:23
i wish to thank the gonzipn and austinpn for the christmas gift to the nation - the new highsky tariffs for electricity, water and drainage....... thank you for making the majority of the maltese people living in poverty.... only the friends of friends - the billioners can celebrate..... the poor people no.... they can only breathe the black dust....
fred