The government intends to retaliate for Labour's manoeuvres in Parliament on Wednesday by sticking rigorously to procedure.
The House of Representatives tied 34-34 in a vote on two opposition amendments to a Bill on the reform of the planning authority on Wednesday because Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was abroad on government business. The vote eventually went the government's way but only through the casting vote of the Chair.
Government whip David Agius said he and his counterpart Joe Mizzi had reached a gentlemen's agreement that the vote would be taken at another sitting, given Dr Pullicino Orlando's absence. But Mr Mizzi kept insisting that what counted were the minutes of the House where there was no mention of such an agreement.
Reacting to this incident, the culmination of an eventful week in Parliament, Dr Gonzi said the government would rigorously apply parliamentary standing orders to ensure that the country's most important institution could conduct its business without being hampered.
He expressed disappointment at the opposition's attitude, adding that the government and the Nationalist Party would remain focused on the national priorities.
Dr Gonzi said Wednesday's incidents worried him more than what had happened earlier in the week when it took Parliament seven hours to approve the minutes of a previous sitting.
He insisted there was agreement and, as a result, Dr Pullicino Orlando had been authorised to go abroad on government business. Incidentally, he said, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech was also supposed to fly to China on official business but remained in Malta "by chance" because of an urgent EU Finance Ministers' meeting.
"If the opposition wants to play this game that is its business. We will remain focused on competiveness and employment in the country's best interests. The opposition tricked us and we will now proceed to follow Parliament's standing orders for the House to function properly," he said.
Later, when asked for his comments about the matter, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat defended his party's actions in Parliament over the past week.
"What is happening in Parliament does not please us but it is not acceptable for a government with half a seat majority to run roughshod over us. We had to assert ourselves and give the government a clear message that we will not put up with arrogance."
Asked about the verbal agreement between the two whips, Dr Muscat simply said the Speaker had, through the ruling he had given, confirmed there was no agreement and a vote had to be taken.
With regard to Labour's decision to withdraw from the House Select Committee focusing on constitutional matters, Dr Muscat said: "The Labour Party will not participate in the select committee until (Foreign Minister) Tonio Borg apologises to (Labour MP) Justyne Caruana." Dr Borg insisted in Parliament last week that Dr Caruana had voted against an opposition motion on the Delimara power station extension contract, which she denied.
He insisted the government was unstable, both "ideologically and procedurally".
"There are government MPs who have ideological differences with their party but cannot bring themselves to vote against it. The government is also unstable because of its one-seat majority. In both cases the result is instability in the country," Dr Muscat said.