The Nationalist Party today proposed the introduction of a weekly prime minister's question time in Parliament, as well as the abolition of parliamentary privilege.

Addressing a press conference, PN deputy leader for parliamentary affairs Mario de Marco said the party is proposing that the first 30 minutes of every parliamentary sitting on Wednesdays should be dedicated to PMQs.

This would serve to better guarantee transparency as well as generate more interest in Parliament, he said. (Prime Minister's Question Time was introduced in the House of Commons 55 years ago).

DISCIPLINE

He said the Opposition would be supporting a government proposal to fine MPs €50 for every unjustified absence from a parliament session.

The PN is also be proposing the setting up of a permanent House committee to vet petitions received from MPs and citizens. This could lead to the petitions ultimately being debated in plenary if approved.

He also proposed changes that would allow the Opposition to make use of a twice-monthly Opposition Day which is already provided for in Standing Orders on alternate Thursdays.

Items raised by the Opposition woudl be debated on Opposition Days, but Dr de Marco explained that at present, this facility cannot be used unless the government makes use of its own dedicated day the previous Thursday.

This went against the spirit of the rules, and the Opposition was therefore proposing changes that would allow it to make use of its day.

He also called for the abolition of parliamentary privilege, which allows MPs to talk freely in Parliament without fear of legal action.

MPs who speak responsibly do not need to hide behind immunity.- De Marco

MPs who spoke responsibly did not need to hide behind immunity if they have something to say, Dr de Marco said.

Freedom of expression and its rules should apply to all, whether they spoke inside or outside Parliament.

The shadow minister for justice, Jason Azzopardi, hailed the spirit of cooperation between the Opposition and government in steering through a “historic” Bill that reforms the way in which appointments to the judiciary were made.

Dr Azzopardi said that the Bill would take out politics from the equation when it came to judicial appointments.

Dr Azzopardi said the Opposition blocked a government proposal to allow the prime minister to appoint lawyers to the judiciary if they had not applied before an evaluation committee tasked with vetting applicants.

He explained that the prime minister would still be able to propose judicial appointments, but the nominees would still be scrutinised by the committee. Should the government reject the committee's recommendations on judicial appointments, it would have to give its reasons to parliament. 

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