Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil repeatedly sought to get Home Affairs Minister Emanuel Mallia to admit that recent promotions awarded to four top officers at the Armed Forces of Malta had been given without the recommendations of outgoing Brigadier Martin Xuereb.
But Dr Mallia was having none of it. He insisted that everything had been done legally. If other senior AFM officers continued to protest against the promotions, they could go to court. But they had not done so to date.
The promotions could not be described as accelerated in the legal interpretation of the law. But, Dr Mallia said, Dr Busuttil was wont to interpret legislation as he saw fit.