(Adds government, PN statement)
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat this afternoon urged the government to agree a timeframe with the opposition for the conclusion of the no-confidence debate in Parliament.
Speaking at a press conference, Dr Muscat reiterated the Opposition's charge that the government is delaying the debate.
He said that the fact that the government at the House Business Committee yesterday had refused to set a timeframe for the conclusion of the debate was shameful and harmful to the country.
"This country cannot afford a situation where such a debate could drag on for a month or even two months," Dr Muscat said.
He said the Opposition wanted the debate to start this week. If it was to start on Monday evening, at least it should continue in the subsequent sittings without interruption, he said.
The Opposition was not against every MP speaking for an hour. The prime minister could speak for more, he said, but there had to be a timeframe within which the debate would be concluded.
Last November, when a confidence debate was held in the shortest possible time, the prime minister had insisted that the people deserved to know where the government stood, Dr Muscat said. The same argument applied now.
Dr Muscat criticised new Leader of the House Carm Mifsud Bonnici and said his failures in the sectors of justice and home affairs were now being carried over to his management of House business.
The government's delaying tactics, Dr Muscat said, were only serving to further raise instability, which was detrimental to the country.
He hoped that agreement would be reached at the House Business Committee meeting, which has been called for tomorrow afternoon by the Speaker.
Respect for the institution of parliament did not come from the building of a new Parliament House, but taking the proper decisions, Dr Muscat said.
COURT ACTION TO STRIKE PEOPLE OFF ELECTORAL REGISTER
When replying to questions, Dr Muscat confirmed that the Labour Party has filed court action for some 100 people to be struck off the electoral register because they are not qualified to have a vote.
Dr Muscat said these were clear-cut cases and people who had nothing to hide should not fear such applications.
MUSCAT'S BEHAVIOUR DISRESPECTFUL - GOVERNMENT
In a statement, the government reiterated that it wanted a debate on the no confidence motion moved by PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia.
But the Opposition's haste to limit debate on such a serious and important matter again confirmed its arrogance.
Through his behaviour, Dr Muscat was being disrespectful to MPs and Parliament, the government said.
MUSCAT PERSISTS IN ARROGANCE - PN
In spite of the government's will to debate the no confidence motion presented by the Opposition, the Labour leader was still trying to block the debate on the motion by limiting the debate time for government MPs, the Nationalist Party said in a statement.
It said that the Labour leader was also trying to deny voters their right to vote through court action to strike off names from the electoral register.
All this confirmed that the PL, led by Dr Muscat, was persisting in arrogance.