Parliament has agreed on the schedule for two opposition motions to be debated, possibly paving the way for key members of the government to be censured and asked to resign.

Both motions, which could find the support of Nationalist MP Franco Debono, will be debated after a crucial Budget vote on May 9, that could trigger an early election if lost by the government.

One motion, censuring minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici for the way he ran the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, will start to be debated on May 23 and a vote will be held no later than May 30.

The other, which censures Malta’s EU ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana for allegedly trying to avoid a parliamentary vote on Partnership for Peace, will be decided on June 18.

Mr Cachia Caruana will first be questioned by the Foreign Affairs Committee starting May 14.

The date for the vote could be moved earlier or later, depending on how long the grilling takes, as long as the date change is reasonable and finds the support of both sides of the House.

The agreement on both motions was announced by Speaker Michael Frendo during a sitting of the House Business Committee.

The meeting was significantly shorter and friendlier than the one held on Monday evening.

The opposition had presented two adjournment motions that would have given it the right to call for an immediate debate on them.

Deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia said the agreement showed that the opposition was acting responsibly and serenely in the national interest.

Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said common sense had prevailed on both sides. He thanked the Speaker for helping them to reach a compromise agreement.

The Budget Implementation Measures Bill will go through its second and third readings on May 9. A vote will also be taken on the “special purpose vehicle” being set up to fund the building of the new Parliament.

Dr Debono had advised the government not to go to the Budget vote while one of its ministers faced a motion of censure. However, it is thought that he is unlikely to vote against the government and be responsible for an early election.