The Speaker of the House, Michael Frendo had nothing to say on the recent political developments yesterday.

Dr Frendo confirmed neither he nor Office of the Clerk had had any contact with MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando since he resigned from the PN on Thursday.

Asked whether he will be taking any initiative following the latest political developments, Dr Frendo would not comment.

“I have an institutional role which is above partisan politics. I will only act according to what happens inside the House,” Dr Frendo said.

According to Standing Orders, although the House is in recess and will only reconvene on October 1, the Speaker can call MPs back on grounds of urgency if he decides one exists.

MPs can ask the Speaker to reconvene Parliament. Again, the Speaker has the final say.

Sources close to Parliament said that since Dr Pullicino Orlando had publicly declared he would be supporting the government’s electoral programme, there appeared to be no reason for urgency.

The sources noted the opposition could still make a formal request for Parliament to reconvene but it should be careful.

“Labour has already lost two no-confidence motions against the government and it will be risking embarrassment if it makes a third,” they said.

In a statement, the Office of the President said it was not within the President’s constitutional function to intervene in matters that took place outside the House.

Referring to comments about the President’s role in the present political situation, his office said the issue was determined by Parliament.

Last week, Nationalist backbencher and lawyer Franco Debono noted that the President should get involved in the situation and he yesterday stood by his declaration.