During the meeting of the House Business Committee, members ended up arguing over parking spaces for members of parliament.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia said MPs will park near the Central Bank while members of Cabinet and the leader of the opposition will park in Ordinance Street near Palazzo Ferreria. But PN’s whip David Aguis said that there should be no distinction between MPs and ministers, adding that parking spaces should be divided according to the representation in Parliament.

62 parking spaces are available for MPs near the Central Bank, 20 of which are available during the day.

The programme for the official opening of the new parliament has been approved by the House Business Committee, and is as follows.

On Monday, Members of parliament are set to meet up at the principal hall at the Palace at 3.30pm. From there, they will walk towards the entrance of the palace, to attend a symbolic ceremony. Following that, the MPs would walk together towards the new parliament, where the speaker and the President will deliver their speeches and the commemorative inscription will be revealed.

A short reception will follow before MPs gather for the sitting at 6pm, where they are expected to discuss the climate change bill.

A total of 100 guests are invited, including the judiciary and DGs, former Prime Ministers and former speakers. No plus ones are invited, as spaces are limited.

Architect and Designer Renzo Piano and his colleague Antonio Belvederi have also been invited. No other foreigners have been invited.

Initially, members of the committee had proposed that the public will be able to attend the reception, however, for security purposes; it will probably be closed off.