PL whip Godfrey Farrugia said that he imposed a ‘travel ban’ on government MPs to ensure parliamentary majority in the light of the fact that many ministers are abroad on work-related duties.
Besides, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is also off to Brussels today to attend two summits, one on migration and the other on Greece.
Dr Farrugia’s comments to this newsroom came after we asked him why two government MPs who were invited by the President of the Republic to attend a Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly did not attend.
President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca is on a two-day trip in Strasbourg to address the assembly. Accompanying Ms Coleiro Preca are PN deputy leader for party affairs Beppe Fenech Adami and PN MP Charlo Bonnici.
The event is being held on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Malta’s membership in the Council.
Currently, a number of ministers are on work-related duties overseas, including Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech, Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella, Finance Minister Edward Scicluna, Transport Minister Joe Mizzi and Education Minister Evarist Bartolo.
Dr Farrugia explained that late last week, he gave instructions to the two government MPs who were invited to Strasbourg– Joe Debono Grech and Deborah Schembri – to excuse themselves with the President for not being able to attend. Dr Farrugia added that he asked the Clerk of the House on Saturday to inform the Maltese Ambassador in Strasbourg that the two MPs would not be able to attend the session on Monday. He also made sure the Office of the President was informed.
He said that Mr Debono Grech would be attending the CoE assembly tomorrow however.
“The two MPs did not mean any disrespect but the issue boils down to logistics. The fact that so many ministers are abroad at one given time meant that I had to take precautionary measures to ensure parliamentary majority. It is my duty to guarantee a majority in parliament on the government’s side,” he continued.
Environment Minister Leo Brincat to fill in for PM
Dr Farrugia further explained that Environment Minister Leo Brincat will be filling in for the Prime Minister while he is away.