It has been a long, bumpy ride but Malta has, for the first time, its own parliamentary building in the form of an architectural landmark at City Gate, in Valletta.
The controversy over the design choice for the new Parliament has died out and there now appears to be a general acceptance of Renzo Piano’s bold plans. It is hoped that the rest of the proposals by this internationally-renowned architect, most especially those for the area of the former bus terminus and City Gate ditch, are seen to their completion.
Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said the new building symbolised Parliament’s autonomy from all other constitutional bodies and institutions, something that successive speakers of the House have for years been calling for.
Dr Farrugia went on to describe the television transmissions of parliamentary debates as a quantum leap. Transparency is necessary for the proper functioning of a democracy but a quantum leap in our parliamentary democracy would take more than televised debates. The Speaker, more than anyone else, understands how much more remains to be done to raise the standards of parliamentary debates to make them worth watching on TV. No doubt, he is working to achieve that, such as through the addition of five research analysts to assist in the work of parliamentary committees, which are transmitted as well.
The Speaker also urged MPs to pass laws that would continue to improve standards at this highest of institutions in the country. He mentioned in particular a Bill on parliamentary services that would ensure Parliament’s administrative autonomy and Bills to set up a permanent committee on standards in public life and a standards commissioner.
These measures would continue to make Parliament more transparent, more responsible, more respectful of the people who elect its members and, no doubt, more interesting to watch.
President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca similarly augured that the Piano building would include all the necessary facilities to enable members of the House to access all the information required so they fulfill their duties in the best possible way.
She even had words of advice for the MPs at their new home. In reminding them of their electoral promise to amend the Constitution so it would better reflect people’s needs and aspirations today, she stressed the importance of political maturity in making constitutional amendments. She urged that in their discussions and decisions, MPs take into consideration the voices of people who were not represented in Parliament but nevertheless enjoyed public support. Their voices should be heard in the spirit of a substantive and inclusive democracy, she said.
The elected representatives of citizens of this country have their work more than cut out for them. With accession to the European Union and the technical legislation that involves, with the changing nature of our economy, with developments in society and scientific improvements that sometimes bring with them challenging ethical issues, MPs need all the technical and professional support they can get to ensure that the best possible legislation is passed.
There is still more work to be done before that quantum leap desired by the Speaker is achieved.
Legislative decisions cannot be taken in a vacuum. As the President said, when parliamentarians take decisions they must embrace the whole of society that lies outside the impressive walls of their new building. It is not the Parliament building that makes a democracy but the spirit that emanates from within it.