The first sitting of the House of Representatives in the parliament building designed by Renzo Piano will be held on Monday, May 4, the House Business Committee decided yesterday.

The decision followed a presentation by Grand Harbour Regeneration Corporation chairman Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, who said that the major outstanding work consisted of testing and commissioning, mostly of the congress system in the chamber.

Many spaces have already been handed over from the contractors to GHRC. The staff can start moving in stages and be in by March 27.

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia, presiding, surprised members by announcing that the AFM had turned down the request to mount security for Parliament. This in spite of the fact that the committee had already minuted that security should be entrusted to the armed forces.

The security angle, which has special requirements due to the exposure of the building, will not be handled by the police. The longed-for parliamentary television channel will finally become a reality with the opening of the new Parliament.

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