The Opposition this evening briefly walked out of Parliament in protest over a ruling by the Speaker following an incident on Friday involving Joe Debono Grech and Marlene Farrugia.
In his ruling, the Speaker ordered Joe Debono Grech and Marlene Farrugia to retract offensive words used against each other in the House on Friday.
The Opposition complained that the victim of threats (Marlene Farrugia) was being treated in the same way as whoever had made the threats.
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Nationalist whip David Agius raised the privilege complaint on Friday, saying Mr Debono Grech had told Marlene Farrugia nigi ghalik u nifqak.
The Speaker said he had listened to recordings of the sitting, seen footage and investigated what words were actually used. He had spoken to Mr Debono Grech, Marlene Farrugia and other MPs because the recordings were not clear.
Marlene Farrugia had said she had heard Mr Debono Grech call her purcinell (clown). She replied in kind, calling him purcinell some four times. He then told her nigi ghalik u nifqak.
Labour whip Godfrey Farrugia, Dr Farrugia's partner, confirmed the exchange and said he had warned Mr Debono Grech he would protect her.
Deborah Schembri (Labour) said she heard Marlene Farrugia calling Mr Debono Grech purcinell, skadut and korrot, also telling him that the time for his sort was over. Other MPs also described what they had heard.
Marlene Farrugia denied calling Mr Debono Grech corrupt.
In his ruling, the Speaker noted that neither Marlene Farrugia nor Mr Debono Grech had invoked breach of privilege.
He said he had repeatedly warned that misbehavior would not be tolerated, more so now that sittings were televised.
In this case, inappropriate language was used by both MP, in breach of standing orders. Therefore he was ordering Marlene Farrugia and Mr Debono Grech to retract the inappropriate words used against each other.
Marlene Farrugia said that if she had used disparaging words she was withdrawing them, although she wished to explain.
Mr Debono Grech said he was also withdrawing any disparaging language which might have been used.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said that the Opposition was walking out in protest over the ruling as the MPs were being treated in the same way.
Marlene Farrugia said the sort of words used by Mr Debono Grech were also the words heard by battered women and the Speaker's ruling therefore sent a worrying message.
Speaking to the media later, Dr Busuttil said the Opposition would present a motion to contest the Speaker's ruling.
He said Mr Debono Grech and Marlene Farrugia could not be treated the same,because one had made threats, and the other was a victim of threats.
Later, commenting on Facebook, Marlene Farrugia said she felt betrayed and ashamed to be a member of the House.
She denied telling Mr Debono Grech korrot and skadut but said she had told him that there was no longer place for old style politics.
She reiterated that she had been a victim of threats but had been treated in the same way as the person who had made the threats. She again made the comparison with what battered women went through.