Last updated at 8.05 p.m.

The Opposition motion of no confidence will start being debated in parliament on Monday evening, with no time limit.

The decision was taken by the Leader of the House, Carm Mifsud Bonnici at a meeting of the House Business Committee this evening after the Opposition withdrew a procedural motion where it had proposed that the debate should be held, and concluded, this Thursday morning.

During this evening's meeting the Opposition accused the government of delaying the debate and it insisted that there should be agreement on when the debate should end.

At the beginning of the committee meeting, Dr Mifsud Bonnici, noted that the Opposition had proposed a procedural motion to limit the confidence debate, and the actual motion of no confidence. 

The procedural motion, he said, was shameful as the Opposition wanted to limit the no confidence debate to one sitting, with 90 minutes for each side. This was an arrogant and mistaken attitude by the Opposition.

He recalled that during the last confidence debate, in November, the duration of the debate was agreed beforehand by both sides.

In this case, however, the Opposition had not sought agreement and gone ahead with its motion.

Therefore, the government would go ahead with the debate on the procedural motion on Wednesday, and once that debate was concluded, one would see.

Anglu Farrugia, deputy leader of the opposition, said the problem of instability needed to be settled this week. He recalled that the debate in November only took one sitting and the procedure the Opposition was proposing for the new confidence debate was the same one. However, the Opposition was open to agreement with the government.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the government had no objection to the confidence debate. However since the Opposition had presented the procedural motion without seeking agreement, it would have to bear the consequences of its actions. 

Dr Farrugia said he was prepared to discuss any extension of debating time. Therefore he was prepared to hold the Opposition's procedural motion in abeyance so that agreement could be reached.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the Opposition had been unmasked and it was clear that it was only after achieving power.

Mr Mizzi said the procedural motion could be withdrawn and the no confidence debate could go ahead for as long as needed.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said it seemed the Opposition did not know what it was doing. First it wanted to limit the debate, now it wanted to withdraw the procedural motion. 

Joe Mizzi, Opposition whip, said the government wanted to delay the confidence debate. The Opposition, therefore, was withdrawing its procedural motion, on the understanding that the no-confidence debate would be held this week, as the prime minister had said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said this was not on. One could not have games, with the Opposition first presenting motions and then withdrawing them. Did the Opposition know what it was doing?

Furthermore, the prime minister had not said the confidence debate had to be concluded this week.

Mr Mizzi said this was filibustering (delaying tactics) by the government.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that if the Opposition withdrew its procedural motion, the no-confidence debate would start on Monday, with no time limit.

Mr Mizzi said there should be agreement on when the debate ended.

The sitting was suspended for 10 minutes to enable both sides to hold consultations.

SITTING RESUMES

When the siting resumed, Dr Farrugia said that once the minister had proposed that the debate would start on Monday, how would it proceed?

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the debate would start on Monday and it would be held according to the rules of the house, with no limit.

Mr Mizzi said both sides normally agreed in the committee on how long debates would take. The Opposition wished the debate to be held this week. If it was to start on Monday, it could start in the morning and continue in the afternoon, which should be adequate. If need be, it could continue and be concluded with the vote on Tuesday.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said this was an important debate and he was not prepared to limit the number of MPs who wished to speak. The debate would proceed according to the rules of the House, as from Monday.

Dr Farrugia insisted that the debate could be concluded on Tuesday. Even if all the government MPs spoke, the Opposition only needed an hour and the vote could therefore be taken on Tuesday evening (tomorrow week).

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the debate would be held normally as from Monday at 6.30 p.m. and proceed normally. The government wanted the debate but would not limit anyone.

Dr Farrugia said the government was delaying the start of the debate...

Mr Speaker Michael Frendo said standing order 49 laid down that in confidence debates, MPs could speak for an hour each (and not 40 minutes which is the limit for other motions).

Dr Farrugia consulted standing orders.

Mr Mizzi said the debate could start well before Monday to stop the instability that the country was suffering.

He proposed that the committee should meet again on Wednesday for the government to say how many of its MPs would speak. In that way, the duration of the debate could be planned.

Dr Farrugia said the debate was being delayed unduly. The debate should take as long as the government wanted, but a date for conclusion should be set.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he had nothing to say. The Opposition had changed its position. The debate would start on Monday (today week), without any limits or restrictions  of the type the Opposition wanted to impose.

Mr Mizzi said Dr Mifsud Bonnici's decision reflected a lack of good will and a delaying tactic which was not in the general election. He insisted that the committee should agree to conclude the debate on Wednesday (Jan 25).

Dr Mifsud Bonnci said he was against any time limit.

This Wednesday the House will convene after the Christmas recess and will discuss the transfer of properties to various societies followed by the debate on the Education (amendment) Bill and the Budget Implementation Bill. The debate on the no confidence motion will start on Monday.

Mr Mizzi said the Opposition disagreed and was calling for another meeting of the House Business Committee.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said there was nothing else to add and the schedule was clear.

The meeting ended at 8.04 p.m.