Two months after the election gave the Nationalist Party a slim relative majority, Parliament will convene this morning to officially kick off the new legislature.
And it is precisely that slim relative majority which leaves the set-up of the House of Representatives still in a temporary status until the Malta Labour Party elects its new leader.
The government and the opposition have in fact been involved in negotiations over the running of Parliament, but these have now been postponed until after the MLP replaces Alfred Sant at the helm.
Former Education Minister Louis Galea has been temporarily chosen as the Speaker, but this could change if the two sides come to terms on a long list of proposals the government has submitted, with the opposition saying it will be in a position to make up its mind when the internal leadership elections are over.
Dr Galea has agreed to step down if the government and the opposition will reach an accord. The government has proposed, among other things, that a Labour opposition MP is named as Speaker on condition that there is an agreement on pairing, which is deemed of utmost importance to the government, considering that it has a one-seat majority.
The MLP has decided to consider pairing arrangements case by case and re-appointed the same spokesmen until a permanent decision is taken after the leadership elections, due to be held in the first half of June. Its proposal to re-appoint outgoing Speaker Anton Tabone as a stop-gap solution was turned down by the government.
The government proposal that Labour should appoint a Speaker from within its parliamentary group has, so far, not been welcomed with open arms by Labour, who see it as a way for the government to increase its majority in Parliament to two – since the Speaker does not vote on bills unless his casting vote is needed when there is a draw.
Yet, the appointment of Dr Galea has in any case given the government that extra vote, and therefore the MLP should perhaps think twice before refusing such an offer that, if it comes to be, will bring a breath of fresh air in local politics.
It is understandable that the MLP does not want to rush into conclusions at a time when it is in the process of electing its leader and two deputy leaders. It is also understandable that the government could not wait until the MLP settles its internal matters to open Parliament, and therefore opted for a temporary solution.
One now hopes that in a month’s time, once the MLP leadership contest is over, the two sides will again get together in order to find a compromise. This should however not take too long, as having a temporary solution that lasts months on end would not be “temporary” at all. A permanent set-up should be in place, at the latest, before Parliament stops for the summer recess.
There are other matters that will need to be discussed – such as the idea to hold parliamentary sessions on Tuesday morning and evening and Wednesday morning, and the introduction of the Prime Minister’s question-time once every fortnight.
Both are worth considering, as this will facilitate the government’s international commitments, in particular those related to the European Union, and also give the opposition the chance to grill the Prime Minister every two weeks.
The opening of Parliament today will also bring the government out of the slumber it has fallen into since the elections were held. Although government activity has picked up slightly after a few weeks of rest following the election, Parliament will no doubt help to increase the momentum.