Updated 10.13 p.m.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives this evening upheld a complaint by Nationalist MP Tonio Fenech following an exchange with the prime minister, saying that Dr Muscat could have made a better choice of words.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia delivered his ruling two-and-a-half hours after the sitting was suspended, with Mr Fenech demanding a retraction or apology from Dr Muscat.

The exchange took place when Dr Muscat referred to a meeting which Mr Fenech had had with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund, speaking of 'incitement' by the Nationalist MP

Mr Fenech denied wrongdoing and demanded an apology.

He  said that in terms of standing orders, no one could impute bad motives on an MP.

He insisted that in a regular meeting with the IMF delegation, one of the sort frequently requested by the IMF, he had defended Malta's banking system and the financial situation, although he had said that the government did not seem as committed as before to rein in the deficit.

He hoped, he said, that Malta was not returning to the Mintoff days where anyone who criticised the government was labelled a traitor.

Dr Muscat stood his ground, saying the government knew exactly what the IMF delegation had said Mr Fenech told them. The government had had to work hard overnight to remove the unfounded doubts which Mr Fenech had instilled, in comments he should be ashamed to have made. The government would not allow this undermining.

Furthermore Mr Fenech seemed to think he was still a minister and was not tolerating different opinions.

Mr Fenech said Dr Muscat should explain what the IMF had told him he had allegedly said.

He also demanded an apology and requested a ruling from the Speaker.

The sitting was suspended shortly after 7.30 p.m. and resumed at 10.02 p.m.

The Speaker in his ruling noted that the Chair had twice asked the prime minister to regularise himself and Dr Muscat replied he had done nothing wrong.

The Chair, Dr Farrugia said, had to consider whether the choice of words xewwex and imminag were offensive against the character of the MP. He quoted various interpretations from various dictionary sources  and said the two words were clearly unsuited in parliament and the prime minister could have made a better choice of words without implying ulterior motives.

The House was then adjourned for tomorrow.