Simon Busuttil was sworn in as Leader of the Opposition yesterday, five days after securing the Nationalist Party’s leadership.
People have a right to know what we stand for throughout the five years
He took the oath of office at a ceremony presided by President George Abela at the Palace in Valletta in the presence of his parents and one of his sons.
Dr Busuttil replaced former PN leader Lawrence Gonzi, who had resigned from the post earlier in the day.
Dr Gonzi was not present for the swearing-in ceremony because he was abroad.
Dr Busuttil will announce his shadow cabinet today, in what will be one of the first decisions to affirm his leadership.
In his first speech as Opposition leader, Dr Busuttil said he will lead a “tough” Opposition but one that will also extend the “hand of friendship and cooperation” to the Government.
“The Opposition is an important guarantee of freedom and I want to build a strong Opposition to ensure the Government adheres to its pledges and to scrutinise its operations,” he said.
In a jibe at the various votes of no-confidence in the government that the Labour Opposition had put forward in the last legislature, Dr Busuttil said the Opposition will not put spokes in the wheels and try to destabilise the Government.
“We will also put forward our ideas, perspectives and proposals because the people have a right to know what we stand for throughout the five years and not on the eve of an election,” he said.
Taking a cue from the controversy over the Government’s wish to appoint Opposition members to executive roles, Dr Busuttil urged the Prime Minister to rekindle a law that was proposed in the mid-1990s that allowed for the appointment of Opposition nominees to state entities.
“We are ready to cooperate as long as the role and autonomy of the Opposition is respected. We cannot be part of the executive but any cooperation has to be within a clear framework,” Dr Busuttil said.
On the constitutional changes the Government wants to make, Dr Busuttil said Parlia-ment should be involved, avoiding any mention of the controversial appointment of former Nationalist MP Franco Debono as the coordinator of the constitu-tional convention.
The Opposition leader also said he wanted to see the creation of a new parliamentary committee to deal with petitions put forward by ordinary citizens.
At the start of his brief intervention, Dr Busuttil said the Opposition will cooperate with Speaker Anġlu Farrugia, despite criticism over his appointment early on in this legislature.
Dr Busuttil was welcomed by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, who said their previous experience as MEPs will help open “a new page” in the relations between the Government and the Opposition.
“We expect scrutiny from the Opposition but as a Government, our preferred option is to move forward with consensus. I wish him well and I am sure we will be loyal adversaries,” Dr Muscat said.
Opening the parliamentary session, the Speaker said the appointment of a new Opposition leader represented a fresh page in the history of parliamentary democracy.
ksansone@timesofmalta.com