The Opposition would treat Speaker Anġlu Farrugia with the utmost dignity and respect, Lawrence Gonzi pledged yesterday.

He assured Dr Farrugia, who paid a courtesy visit to the Nationalist Party’s headquarters in Pietà, that he would be respected.

Dr Farrugia was one of the PN’s main targets when he was involved with the Labour Party.

Until last December, Dr Farrugia was Labour’s deputy leader before Joseph Muscat forced him to resign, ostensibly for accusing a magistrate of political bias.

Following his resignation, Dr Farrugia had told The Times in an interview that he had been the victim of “political murder”.

Dr Farrugia told Dr Gonzi he would do his best to uphold the rights of every MP in the House, including their privilege, saying he would “rise above partisan politics”.

He noted that he had broken all ties with the Labour Party.

Dr Farrugia promised to carry out his duties with dignity and to the best of his abilities.

He was accompanied by Deputy Speaker Ċensu Galea, PN Whip David Agius, Labour Whip Carmelo Abela and by the Clerk of the House, Ray Scicluna.

Dr Gonzi, himself a Speaker for nearly nine years, said Parliament played a “crucial” role in a democratic country. In the national interest, the Opposition was ready to cooperate and respect Parliament as the country’s most important institution.

His attitude yesterday contrasted with that in Parliament last Saturday when Dr Farrugia formally took over as Speaker. Dr Gonzi said the Opposition objected to the appointment, saying it was a mistaken decision about which the Opposition had not been consulted and something that sowed division.

As he left the meeting with Dr Gonzi yesterday, Dr Farrugia said the matter had been discussed and “solved”. He said he looked forward to working with both sides of the House.

Later in the day, Dr Farrugia also called on the Prime Minister at Castille.