Former Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Frendo is tomorrow expected to be sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives as his predecessor, Louis Galea, steps down to take up a new office in Luxembourg.
Karl Gouder will then fill the parliamentary seat vacated by Dr Frendo after a motion for his co-option is moved.
This was discussed yesterday during a House Business Committee meeting, the last to be attended by Dr Galea who assumes his new role as member of the European Court of Auditors on May 7.
Committee members thanked Dr Galea for his work as Speaker, a post he occupied since 2008. Emotionally, he noted he would be leaving the House he had worked in throughout his 33-year career as a Nationalist MP. Covering his face with one hand, his voice broke slightly as he recomposed himself and moved on with the committee meeting's agenda.
The committee agreed that a special sitting would be held on Thursday at 6 p.m. when Dr Frendo and Mr Gouder will be sworn in to their new parliamentary posts.
Labour whip Joseph Mizzi said the opposition will second Dr Frendo's nomination as Speaker.
Dr Frendo's resignation as MP will be the first step in the two-levelled seat swap. His resignation will be followed by the motion for the co-option of Mr Gouder who will then take up Dr Frendo's freshly vacated seat, becoming the PN's youngest parliamentarian.
Next, Dr Galea will step down as Speaker of the House and Dr Frendo will be sworn in by Deputy Speaker Carmelo Abela, after a motion is passed.
The nomination of Dr Frendo for Speaker was unanimously approved by the PN parliamentary group on Thursday evening.
Dr Frendo, 54, was first elected in 1987. During the 2008 elections he lost his parliamentary seat only to regain it in a casual election after Cabinet was announced, leaving him as a backbencher.
Since Dr Frendo was elected during a casual election, his successor had to be co-opted.
On Saturday, Mr Gouder, 30, was selected by the PN executive to succeed Dr Frendo. He obtained 31 votes, Pippo Psaila got 19 votes and former MP Franco Galea four votes. All three were candidates on the 10th district from which Dr Frendo had been elected.
Mr Gouder, who contested the general election for the first time in March 2008, will be resigning his post of deputy major of St Julians this morning.
His position within the PN as assistant information director will be discussed during an upcoming administrative committee meeting.
Mr Gouder is the second new Nationalist MP in Parliament this year. Żebbuġ councillor Peter Micallef won a casual election to fill the seat vacated by former Social Policy Minister John Dalli who stepped down to serve as European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Rights.