An altercation between Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and Opposition MP Marthese Portelli, leading Dr Portellito lodge a breach-of-privilege complaint, was political bickering and did not constitute a breach of privilege, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia ruled today.

Yesterday, Mr Mizzi had said that when she had been a director of WasteServ, Dr Portelli had pocketed honoraria for board meetings she had not attended. Dr Portelli had referred him to the way Environment Minister Leo Brincat had answered a parliamentary question in April 2013.

The Speaker said there was no discrepancy between what Mr Mizzi had said and what Mr Brincat answered, because the latter had not gone into details of Dr Portelli’s attendance of board meetings.

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