The opposition has presented a motion of no confidence in Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia to the Speaker this afternoon, and is hoping for an immediate debate on the issue.
The motion was filed on the opposition's behalf by the Nationalist Party's deputy leader Mario de Marco and its home affairs spokesman Jason Azzopardi, and argues that the aftermath of the shooting incident involving the minister's driver Paul Sheehan makes his position untenable. Mr Sheehan was yesterday charged with attempted murder over the case.
In the motion, the opposition points out that in a statement issued immediately after the incident, the Home Affairs Ministry portrayed the victim as the aggressor by describing what had happened as a hit and run and claiming that Mr Sheehan simply fired warning shots. This statement, it insists, was a clear attempt to cover up a serious incident, pointing out that the truth was only revealed by the media.
It also notes that the police - who Dr Mallia is politically responsible for - failed to observe the most basic and elementary procedures in their investigation, including by failing to allow for the proper collection of evidence when the car which was shot at was moved before the inquiring magistrate could arrive.
The party observes that in spite of repeated calls by the opposition and by the media for Dr Mallia to be removed, Dr Mallia has failed to assume any political responsibility, and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has failed to do what was expected of him.
Through the motion, MPs are thus asked to censure Dr Mallia's behaviour, declare that they have no confidence in him, and ask the Prime Minister to demand his resignation and to dismiss him if he does not follow suit.
At the presentation of the motion, Dr de Marco insisted that the Prime Minister's decision to appoint a board of retired judges to look into the case was an attempt to evade his own responsibilities, and pointed out that the board would not be able to determine who should assume political responsibility. He also argued that the board was redundant, since a magistrate is already holding an inquiry into the crime.
It is arguably practically impossible for the motion to pass - due to the government's nine-seat majority, five of its MPs would have to defy the party whip, and none have signalled any interest in doing so.
Asked to comment on this, Dr de Marco stressed that the opposition felt that it was its duty to present the motion, as it reflected the general public's lack of confidence in Dr Mallia, and urged government MPs to stand up and be counted.
It will be up to the House Business Committee to decide when the motion should be discussed.