Alfred Sant 'embarrassed' to be an MP

Former Labour leader Alfred Sant will be absenting himself from tomorrow’s Parliamentary sitting which will be addressed by EP President Jerzy Buzek as a sign of embarrassment at his being an MP.

In a letter to Speaker Michael Frendo, Dr Sant referred to Dr Frendo’s reply to his letter of December 28, where he had accused the government of being in contempt of the House in the manner it had decided to raise the honoraria of MPs and how the information was disclosed, two-and-a-half-years later, in a way which put MPs in a bad light.

The increase was backdated to March 2008, according to a decision taken by the Cabinet in May that year.

In his reply yesterday, Dr Frendo told Dr Sant that while the decision was anomalous, it was not in contempt of the House.

Dr Sant told Dr Frendo in another letter this morning, that while he reserved the right to reply in detail in future, this was the first time in all the years he had served as an MP, to feel embarrassed to say he was a member of the House.

He said that to express this sentiment, he would not be attending tomorrow’s sitting, which was to be addressed by Dr Buzek.

Dr Sant pointed out he would not be doing this in disrespect towards Dr Buzek or other members who would be addressing the House but to express concern at how the best institution of Constitutional democracy was being undermined and shown contempt as if nothing was happening.