The government’s three Gozitan MPs should apologise to Parliament, the Speaker of the House and fellow MPs for making a mockery of the institution, according to Labour MP Gino Cauchi.

These MPs, he said, had denied something that was listed in the official minutes and which had already been approved.

He was referring to a statement issued by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said and Parliamentary Assistant Frederick Azzopardi on Sunday refuting claims by Labour Leader Joseph Muscat that they had voted against giving the Gozo Business Chamber a seat on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The three MPs accused Dr Muscat of “twisting facts”, saying that the only vote taken was to an amendment proposed by the government.

Following this statement, Mr Cauchi on Tuesday asked Speaker Michael Frendo for a ruling in which he confirmed that the Opposition’s motion for the inclusion of Forum Confederation and the Gozo Business Chamber in the MCESD had been defeated by 35 votes against and 34 in favour.

Mr Cauchi said the minutes showed that all government MPs, including the three Gozitan MPs, had voted against the motion and therefore voted against the interests of Malta’s sister island. In their original statement, the Gozitan MPs had failed to make reference to a previous amendment by the Opposition to its own motion to also include the Gozo Business Chamber.

Mr Cauchi said these MPs were making a mockery of Parliament and should therefore apologise to Dr Frendo and fellow MPs as well as issue an apology via the Department of Information, the same institution that issued Sunday’s denial.

Opposition Parliamentary Whip Joe Mizzi said the MPs’ behaviour was “unacceptable” and was also shedding doubts on who had the majority in Parliament, which, he said, was “very serious”.

In his reaction, Dr Said said the Gozo Business Chamber was already participating on the MCESD’s Gozo Regional Committee, set up earlier this year, following consensus at the council.

He said the government MPs had voted in favour of an amendment to the Opposition motion for social dialogue to be strengthened through discussions with social partners. The Opposition knew this but was “playing a political game to try to win votes.”