Updated Wednesday - Parliament will today debate an Opposition motion for a review of the Speaker's ruling that found a prima facie breach of privilege by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil following a complaint by the prime minister.

Dr Busuttil last week accused the government of trying to gag the Opposition after it raised the breach of privilege complaint following his comments on political interference in police investigations into the John Dalli case.

Dr Muscat denied such interference and demanded he retract or substantiate his statement, made on Monday week, and then demanded a ruling from the Speaker.

The Opposition walked out of the Chamber in protest of the Speaker’s ruling.

The Opposition motion says that the comments made by the Leader of the Opposition and the political conclusion he reached was an exercise of the fundamental right of freedom of expression. In this case, it was political expression in the highest institution of the country.

Any attempt by the prime minister to hinder any MP form expressing his judgement or political opinion was therefore an attempt to undermine parliamentary democracy.

Furthermore, in making his privilege complaint the prime minister had not followed the proper procedure as also demanded by Labour MP Joe Mizzi in a motion on March 22, 2006.

The motion therefore called for the Speaker’s ruling to be revised and a report to be made to the House.

Meanwhile, PN General Secretary Chris Said, speaking on TimesTalk, said that once the case goes before House Privileges Committee, the Opposition would be able to call witnesses to show the justification of its political judgement, including how the Attorney General had agreed with the former Commissioner of Police that there were grounds for Mr Dalli to be arraigned.