Anyone unfamiliar with the current political situation would think it was all cool and relaxed on the government front benches as the first of four sittings allocated to the no confidence vote in the government came and went this evening.
Rebel MP Franco Debono sat in one of the seats closest to the door throughout the sitting, chatting in a relaxed manner to a procession of about a dozen Nationalist MP.
Pointedly, however, there were no chats, not even eye contact, with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Transport Minister Austin Gatt, Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici or with MP Beppe Fenech Adami, which have been the subject of his criticism over the past few weeks.
Dr Debono could safely claim after the first sitting that no one had attacked his ideas or his methods. The only one who came close was Michael Gonzi, the prime minister's brother, who spoke on the role of the backbench and made it a point to state that it was the Cabinet which was best placed to decide on the country's priorities. He also mentioned areas frequently cited by Dr Debono as needing reform, but said no progress could be made without economic well-being, which was the government's priority.
Following that speech, Dr Debono appeared to be telling Dr Gonzi what his views were.
Earlier, Dr Debono went up to the Chair to chat with Speaker Michael Frendo, and later chatted for quite some time with Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea.
Shorter conversations were held with whip David Agius and MPs Francis Zammit Dimech, Stephen Spiteri, Edwin Vassallo, Joe Falzon, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Robert Arrigo and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.
MPs' attendance for the start of the sitting was far higher than normal - most of the seat were full as Joseph Muscat opened the debate.
But the MPs then started to trickle out as Health Minister Joseph Cassar became the first of a number of government MP to speak on the government's record, taking the rest of the sitting. At one time, the Opposition's benches were practically empty. It looked like business as usual.
Dr Debono is expected to make his own contribution to the debate on Wednesday. The vote is on Thursday at Noon.