Speaker Michael Frendo has called for Parliament to be given is autonomy as a Constitutional institution, and for the Committee on Strengthening Democracy to be reactivated.

Speaking at the June 7, 1919,commemoration, which led to the granting of self-governemnt in 1921, Dr Frendo reiterated a call made by previous Speakers at the same ceremony for Parliament to be granted autonomy (from the government).  

"I hope that all political powers together, without trying to score political points against each other, commit
themselves and have the courage to take such a step and take a long term view in the common interest of strengthening our democracy.

"Such a decision would signify a qualitative leap in our parliamentary democracy, would strengthen the democratic credentials of its authors, and would provide evidence of a change in mindset regarding what the Parliamentary Institution truly represents within the framework of the checks and balances of our Constitution."

 "Parliament’s autonomy strengthens this Institution which represents the entire choice of the people in a general election, since this Institution is fundamental for democracy not only during voting time but also for all that happens during the five years between each election."

Dr Frendo said it was lamentable that the Select Committee on the Strengthening of Democracy was inoperative, having been abandoned due to the fact that it could not operate without everyone's political will.

"The Standing Committee on House Business is another forum where such changes can be effected, but it
is certainly not the best forum when compared to the hope and expectation which the said Select Committee of the House had created throughout the country. There is an urgent need for such a situation to be changed because it is depriving us of the use of a tool which was appropriate for such purposes of reform in favour of
parliamentary democracy," he said.

The Opposition walked out of the committee in protest after controversy erupted when governemnt MPs cast doubt on how some Labour MPs (particularly Justyne Caruana) had voted after a debate on the power station extension. The Opposition had also protested over the Speaker's ruling on the issue. The Deputy Speaker, who was a Labour MP, had also resigned at the time.

See the Speaker's Address in full by clicking on the pdf below.