Parliament will this evening debate an Opposition motion asking for a review of the Speaker’s ruling that found PN leader Simon Busuttil was in breach of privilege, the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Dr Busuttil last week accused the Government of trying to gag the Opposition after it raised a breach of privilege complaint following his claims of interference in the position taken by the police over the John Dalli case.

Dr Muscat denied any such interference and demanded Dr Busuttil retract or substantiate his statement, made on Monday week. He then demanded a ruling from the Speaker when the Opposition Leader stood his ground.

The Opposition walked out of the Chamber in protest at the Speaker’s ruling.

The PN motion says that the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition and the political conclusion he reached (about political interference with the Police Commissioner to stop action against John Dalli) was an exercise in the fundamental right of freedom of expression.

In this case, it was political expression in the highest institution of the country.

Any attempt by the Prime Minister to hinder any MP form expressing his judgement or political opinion was therefore an attempt to undermine parliamentary democracy.

Furthermore, in making his privilege complaint the Prime Minister had not followed the proper procedure as also demanded by Labour MP Joe Mizzi in a motion put forward on March 22, 2006.

The motion therefore called for the Speaker’s ruling to be revised and a report to be made to the House.