Speaker makes no comment
Speaker Michael Frendo. Photo: Jason Borg
The Speaker of the House, Michael Frendo had nothing to say on the recent political developments yesterday.
Dr Frendo confirmed neither he nor Office of the Clerk had had any contact with MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando since he resigned from the PN on Thursday.
Asked whether he will be taking any initiative following the latest political developments, Dr Frendo would not comment.
“I have an institutional role which is above partisan politics. I will only act according to what happens inside the House,” Dr Frendo said.
According to Standing Orders, although the House is in recess and will only reconvene on October 1, the Speaker can call MPs back on grounds of urgency if he decides one exists.
MPs can ask the Speaker to reconvene Parliament. Again, the Speaker has the final say.
Sources close to Parliament said that since Dr Pullicino Orlando had publicly declared he would be supporting the government’s electoral programme, there appeared to be no reason for urgency.
The sources noted the opposition could still make a formal request for Parliament to reconvene but it should be careful.
“Labour has already lost two no-confidence motions against the government and it will be risking embarrassment if it makes a third,” they said.
In a statement, the Office of the President said it was not within the President’s constitutional function to intervene in matters that took place outside the House.
Referring to comments about the President’s role in the present political situation, his office said the issue was determined by Parliament.
Last week, Nationalist backbencher and lawyer Franco Debono noted that the President should get involved in the situation and he yesterday stood by his declaration.
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32 Comments
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Henry S Pace
Jul 21st 2012, 17:32
; Speaker makes no comment '
It is positive not to comment.
Let us hope that he will move in the right direction.
It is still a mystery how Mr Speaker accepted the PL motion to force RCC to resign.
I do not think that he read Section 113 and 111 of the Constitution om Malta.
Maybe he was also ill-advised.
Kenneth Galea
Jul 21st 2012, 17:10
I think one should be careful what to say about the Speaker.
I really hope that this political hysteria dies down during the next few weeks. I can see that there are desperate people who are craving for change but this will only happen if it is meant to be. I believe that a problem (if there is a problem) will sort itself out eventually rather than battling against it day in day out. Patience is key which I think both leaders of the main political parties are showing right now apart from a bunch of disgruntled voters. The general consensus right now is that if a general election were to be held tomorrow the PL will win it outright but one has to stop and think rather than voting in the heat of the moment.
cesco di luigi
Jul 21st 2012, 16:15
"I have an institutional role which is above partisan politics" now THAT'S a good joke, sir.
Joseph Arpa
Jul 21st 2012, 15:27
No comment.............. u zguuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrr
Joe Tabone
Jul 21st 2012, 15:10
@ Joe Micallef,
Our Parliament is regulated by procedures that derive from the Erskine May (Procedures of a Westminster style Parliament). The Speaker must follow these procedures and the President the Constitution!
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jul 21st 2012, 17:09
Good old Erskine May, always there when you need it! It makes a good walking stick.
Joe Borg
Jul 21st 2012, 13:41
no comment!!!
OMG this sort of incident hasn'y happened in Maltese parliament for scores of years. Is this what us tax payers are paying the speaker for!!!
Jo Camm
Jul 21st 2012, 15:14
Mr Borg - Mr Speaker has the rules of the House (called Standing Orders) to guide him and he could/should not go against them. Where these S.O. do not offer enough guide he has the Hansard, i.e. the S.O. (with examples) of the Houses of the UK Parliament.
So he knows what he is saying, and we do not pay him (from our taxes) to break the rules in order to please me or you.
Jo Camm
Jul 21st 2012, 16:36
Post Scriptum - Instead of Hansard I should have written "Erskine May (i.e the Procedures UK Parliament).
Mistake regretted.
Emanuel. Vella.
Jul 21st 2012, 13:34
'i have an institutional role which is above partisan politics.
i will only act according to what happens inside the house',
dr. michael frendo.
mela jien nistaqsi,ala accettajt il-gidba ' frame-up ' fuq dr.justine
caruana,fuq il-mozzjoni tal-power-station,maghmula minn dr.austin gatt,
fil-parlament.?.
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Jul 21st 2012, 13:19
"The Speaker of the House, Michael Frendo had nothing to say on the recent political developments yesterday. Dr Frendo confirmed neither he nor Office of the Clerk had had any contact with MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando since he resigned from the PN on Thursday".
Jidher tajjeb, illi s-sggu lil kulhadd joghgob. L-importanti ghal dawn in-nies huwa BISS, EUROS U EUROS u kollha jghidu u jaghmlu li jaqbel lilhom u lil hbieb tal-hbieb.
Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council
Sarah Grech (Zebbug)
Jul 21st 2012, 13:16
Imma fuq 3 toqghod il-borma, Dr. Frendo.
The government won't survive a third no-confidence vote.
Franco is fuming now, hence.......
joseph saliba
Jul 21st 2012, 13:10
Many are afraid that it happens as they are afraid that PL wins the next vote. They want to enjoy PN to throught the last day. But still, there's nothing to be afraid of. This is Democracy at work.
Martin Busuttil
Jul 21st 2012, 12:55
Sorry, and some one correct me if I'm wrong.
But that JPO does not form part of the PN parliamentary group any more, isn't that some thing that 'happened' in parliament?
For sure it didn't happen on any church or public square bench.
HEEEEEEEEEEEEELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Joe Tabone
Jul 21st 2012, 14:02
Martin,
Yes that't right, and Jeffrey got 5100 PN votes under the PN ticket and he said he would support Dr Gonzi on the PN 2008 Electoral Programme!
R. Saliba
Jul 21st 2012, 14:18
no
jesmond zammit
Jul 21st 2012, 12:53
no comment??? mela biex tiehdu l eluf biss qedin?
Mr Michael Debono
Jul 21st 2012, 18:04
Mr Joe Tabone.The 5000 votes JPO got are not party votes because there is no party vote in Malta at least for the moment. They are all 5000 personal votes for JPO. Hence the government the P.N. government 1500 votes surplu over the L.P are to be considered as part of the 5000 of JPO, hence the PN has no longer any majority vote. On the contrary the LP has now a mojority of 3500 votes. That is the logic of personal votes.
Hence tne P.N. are in the same position as the MLP in 1981 and EFA is there to shout Governing without majority. Only an election could put things right again.The P.N. recalling the 1981 election will be throwing a stone on their own foot as is said in Malta"Jitghu il gebla fuq saqajhom. They have lost this point now because of their selfisness.
Martin Saliba
Jul 21st 2012, 12:47
76. (1) The President may at any time by proclamation
prorogue or dissolve Parliament.
76. (1) Il-President jista’ f’kull \mien bi proklama jipproroga
jew ixolji l-Parlament.
joseph saliba
Jul 21st 2012, 13:06
But the President is not Martin Saliba
M Cachia
Jul 21st 2012, 13:33
(5) In the exercise of his powers under this article the President
shall act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister:
Read the whole thing
Martin Saliba
Jul 21st 2012, 22:31
M Cachia ,your commrnt is missleading. 76 - 1 is one option 76 - is another. He can choose between the two of them. 76 -1 dose not need the advice of the PM.
Edmond Micallef
Jul 21st 2012, 12:10
Come FD, follow in the path of JPO, only with a slight difference. You should claim that you 'might be collaborating with the present administration as long as your longstanding nemesis (you know who) is nowhere in sight!
That would give Mr Speaker some points to ponder.
Mr Michael Debono
Jul 21st 2012, 18:17
There is no need to wait, it is imperative tha a decision is taken in parliament and the Speaker is responsible.
Mr Michael Debono
Jul 21st 2012, 18:19
Failing a Speaker decision, then at the first opportunity Parliament could call for a resolution calling for the resignation of the Speaker.
Joseph Micallef
Jul 21st 2012, 11:51
Mela ħadd f'dan il-pajjiż ma jikkumenta. Il-President jgħid li din mhux materja li jista jikkumenta fuqha għaliex ġrat barra l-parlament. Bħal li kieku barra jew ġewwa, ħadd ma jaf biha u mhux se taffetwha l-operat tal-parlament. Issa l-ispeaker li hu direttament u sollennamet responsabbli mil-operat tal-parlament, ma jridx jikkumenta anqas.
Nistaqsi:
1) Il-Presidenza mmexxija minn President għalxiex hi responsabbli? Għal ġbir ta' fondi? maratoni? karità? biss?
2) L-ispeaker għalxiex hu responsabbli? Sabiex jivvota mal-gvern f'kaz li jiġi 'draw' ma l-oppożizzjoni u jsalvaħ milli jikkollassa? biss?
...nibqa bla-risposta.
Mr Michael Debono
Jul 21st 2012, 18:15
The speaker is 100% responsable for what happens in parlament. In view of declarations made the speaker has the responsability to take a decision but this decision must be based of what happens in parliament not just the interest of who appointed you speaker. If you do not recall parliament you are deceiving Malta and your oath. Dan mhux cajt. It is of the utmost importance. Whatever Pullicino has said must be confirmed by a parliamentary vote and not on wisful thinking.. The position is shouting high and clear. Summon parliament. What JPO has said must be confirmed in parliament. We might not believe neither JPO neither Gonzi. They must give proof of their decision. And this is done in parliament nowhere else. The President is expecting it, you yoursel as speaker is expecting it.
Mr Alexander Azzopardi
Jul 21st 2012, 11:43
u l speaker mux meta jigbdulu li spaga jitkellem... Meta Vera ma jkun baqa soluzjonijiet fejn id duru, xtipretendi jekk huwa stess kien u jien personali nemmen li ghadu parti mil klikka, ghax li kieku kappel ha jmejel lil iehor.
Joseph Brincat
Jul 21st 2012, 11:36
The President AND Michael Frendo should see if it is true or not
what Pullicino Orlando and the gonzi pn are saying outside the PARLIMENT !!!!
Ray Buhagiar
Jul 21st 2012, 11:28
“Labour has already lost two no-confidence motions against the government and it will be risking embarrassment if it makes a third,” they said.
At last people are realising that although the situation is different it is not illegal and Dr Gonzi has mandate to govern. Now can we focus on the real issues above partisan politics?
Victor Pulis
Jul 21st 2012, 11:27
The President is in Peru on a mission and wants to stay outof the situation, the speaker of the house has no comment. Why spoil the long Summer holidays for our MPs?
GL Calleja
Jul 21st 2012, 14:01
It will be very hard for the Speaker to get the Parliament together if he wanted to. He has a hard time getting the Parliament together on a normal session. These people are on a two month holiday at the TAX PAYERs expense and that is where they will stay, on holiday.
Please choose the reason of your report below: