Anġlu Farrugia. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

A conciliatory Anġlu Farrugia yesterday began his term as Parliamentary Speaker by apologising for any political wounds he might have inflicted and vowing to steer clear of partisanship.

“My loyalty is to the people and the Constitution... I will defend every MP’s rights, and more importantly I will see to it that the rights of parliamentary minorities are safeguarded,” he said, shortly after being voted in on the back of the Government’s nine-seat majority.

Dr Farrugia’s comments came minutes after a bellicose speech by Opposition leader Lawrence Gonzi, in which the former Prime Minister had accused his successor Joseph Muscat of using the Speakership post to settle personal political scores.

The Nationalist Party has hit out at the Government for nominating Dr Farrugia, who until last December served as the Labour Party’s deputy leader, to the Speakership.

The Government wants to bait, taunt or humiliate us- Gonzi

The PN maintains the job should have been given to a Government MP, and that it should have been consulted.

Dr Farrugia’s opening words were intended to mollify Nationalist party criticism over his appointment. But according to Dr Gonzi, it was the Government, not the new Speaker, who should apologise.

“The person concerned isn’t to blame for this reprehensible scenario,” he said. Describing the choice as a “barefaced attempt by the Government to consolidate its parliamentary votes”, the Opposition leader said his party would not accept being cynically used by the Government to achieve its own aims.

“We will give the person and the role the respect they deserve. But I am disappointed with the way we’re being treated... it seems the Government wants to intentionally bait, taunt or humiliate us,” he said.

The Government has already been criticised for appointing union man John Bencini to chair a council made up of social partners and former rebel PN MP Franco Debono to coordinate a Constitutional Convention. Dr Gonzi referred to the two posts yesterday without mentioning either man by name.

He also said he was keen to “set the record straight”, saying he had consulted with the then-Opposition in writing when nominating the two previous speakers.

Last week, the Prime Minister had intimated that there had been no substantive consultation in the past.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat kept his reply to Dr Gonzi’s broadside brief, telling his counterpart he had evidently not heard the people’s message.

“I expected some disagreement, but I hoped to begin this legislature more positively, not with this apocalyptic ‘après moi, la deluge’ attitude,” he remarked.

Dr Muscat hoped that the PN would come round to the Government’s idea of allowing Opposition MPs to serve executive roles within some entities and departments.

“We were elected on cries of Malta tagħna lkoll, and the Government is prepared to work with you,” he said, before adding that Dr Farrugia was the best choice for the Speakership.

Having expressed contrition for any past political ills, Dr Farrugia told the House that he intended following in his predecessor’s footsteps and pushing for greater parliamentary autonomy.

“We need a more efficient, empowered parliament,” he told MPs. “And to do that, I will need cooperation from all of you.”

How MPs have sat since 1962

*Labour achieved a majority of seats in this election, but not a majority of votes. This anomaly was subsequently fixed through a Constitutional amendment.