Carnival this year is likely to mark the return of political satire after an absence of almost 40 years, but politicians will not appreciate the floats as Parliament will not meet.

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia told a meeting of the House Business Committee yesterday that it would be practically impossible to hold sittings during Carnival week because the main activities will be held in St George’s Square, opposite Parliament’s main entrance.

This entrance is of course not the only access point to the Palace where the House meets.

After a short discussion, the committee agreed that parliamentary sessions will not be held on March 3 and 4 due to Carnival.

Parliament normally meets every evening from Monday to Wednesday.

The committee made it clear the decision only applied to the days of the actual activities and not when rehearsals were held in the square.

The decision for Carnival to return to St George’s Square was announced by Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera last September.

In the past years, the main activities were held at Freedom Square, where Renzo Piano’s new parliamentary building now stands.

Last year the main activities were held on the Granaries, in Floriana.