MPs walked into the new Parliament yesterday with no hint of the controversy that characterised Renzo Piano’s brainchild at City Gate.

The world-famous Italian architect himself was not present for the opening but his professional partner Antonio Belvedere played down the significance of Mr Piano’s absence.

“Mr Piano just arrived from Los Angeles today [yesterday] and it was physically impossible for him to be here in Malta for the inauguration but he will come and visit,” Mr Belvedere told Times of Malta as MPs, former MPs, members of the judiciary and dignitaries mingled in the foyer.

“I was just on the phone with him and he asked me to send his regards to everyone,” Mr Belvedere said.

The Parliament, built over what was previously an open-air car park in Freedom Square, stoked controversy when it was first proposed in 2009 as part of a regeneration plan for the capital’s entrance. Public opinion was split between those who loved the Italian architect’s design of connecting the past to the future and those who loathed it, likening it to a cheese grater.

But for Mr Belvedere there was no returning to any of the controversies yesterday as he spoke of “a dream come true”.

“In 2009 we found a city entrance that was violated and ill-treated, which required us to do a lot of cleaning in the area before we could give back life to the historical parts... this is an edifice born in Malta of Maltese materials and workmanship, for Malta,” Mr Belvedere said.

‘Quantum leap for democracy’

He acknowledged the project was very ambitious and this could have led to delays but insisted the Piano office did not want to give in to mediocrity.

Asked about the controversies that have accompanied the construction throughout the past six years, Mr Belvedere said the office was fully aware of the opposing opinions it elicited.

“We were aware of the controversies but we always respected the different positions and never took sides,” he said.

The signature building at Valletta’s entrance is the first purpose-built Parliament – previous chambers were housed at the Palace in St George’s Square.

It was former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi’s idea to build a parliament at City Gate, which earned him accolades and harsh criticism.

Controversy followed him until last week when the government said it had asked Dr Gonzi to inaugurate the building – reflecting the ironic invitation made to him by Dr Muscat as Opposition leader, who was highly critical of the “wasteful” project.

Dr Gonzi then said he was only asked to deliver a speech but declined the offer, insisting it was the President’s and the Speaker’s duty to inaugurate the building.

Dr Gonzi was present with other former MPs at the ceremony yesterday and described the event as “an extraordinary moment for democracy”.

“This should not be a building for MPs but it should be a building that people come to and use,” he said when asked what it meant to see his dream come true.

This should not be a building for MPs but one that people come to and use

But Dr Gonzi insisted the building also signalled a quality leap forward for the city’s entrance.

“The transfer of Parliament to this building means that the Palace at the heart of the capital can now be transformed into a showcase of Malta’s identity as had been envisaged by Renzo Piano back in 2009,” Dr Gonzi said, hoping the government’s intentions remained the same.

The ceremony started at the Palace where MPs gathered for the very last time. Outside the building in St George’s Square, the army handed over to the police the keys to the new Parliament building, symbolising the transfer of security between the State agencies.

MPs led by Speaker Anġlu Farrugia then walked up Republic Street to the new building.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil walked in front with Joe Debono Grech, the only sitting MP who sat in three parliaments, starting with the Chamber of Tapestries at the Palace.

Labour Whip Godfrey Farrugia carried a flowering plant as a symbol that flowers do grow in Parliament – the reference was to a socio-political novel penned in the 1980s by Oliver Friggieri Fil-Parlament ma jikbrux fjuri (Flowers do not grow in Parliament).

“I will place this plant in my office because I believe Parliament can spawn flowers and we have to take care of them,” Dr Farrugia said as he compared the flowers to the good that came out of Parliament.

His personal gesture was emulated by his partner, fellow Labour MP Marlene Farrugia.

The building was officially opened by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who said this was a defining moment for democracy.

She used the occasion to hammer home some political points, urging MPs to do more to ensure a greater representation of women in Parliament.

“Only then can Parliament be truly representative of society,” she said.

Ms Coleiro Preca said MPs should lead by example and always show respect to one another.

She called for constitutional change to ensure the country’s supreme law met the demands of a modern society.

But the President also took a leaf out of contemporary regional developments when she urged MPs not to be swayed by the “vociferous voices of the few” against immigrants who flee war and poverty.

“Let us not forget that seeking asylum is a right and humanitarian visas could help reduce the deaths at sea of people who fall prey to unscrupulous traffickers,” she said in a heartfelt plea.

Ms Coleiro Preca expressed a hope that MPs will one day discuss the introduction of a social wage to help alleviate poverty and urged them to put the environment at the forefront of decisions.

Speaking before her, the Speaker said the new building symbolised Parliament’s autonomy from other functions of the State.

He said video streaming of the parliamentary sittings was a step in favour of more transparency and scrutiny by the public.Describing this as “a quantum leap” for democracy, he said the next step would be a free-to-air parliamentary TV channel.

The building was blessed by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com