The timetables of both Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil are complicating the drawing up of the parliamentary discussion on the budget for 2016, which will be presented by Finance Minister Edward Scicluna on Monday.

Normally, the Opposition Leader responds to the budget speech a week after this is presented, with the Prime Minister then replying within one or two days.

But prior commitments slated for the week after the budget for both Dr Joseph Muscat and Dr Simon Busuttil will possibly result in a change of practices.

The European Council as well as the European People’s Party meeting are just two dates Dr Muscat and Dr Busuttil have pencilled in their diaries. They both have other duties they have to juggle with, and this is resulting in no schedule yet being set up for the parliamentary debates.

Sources told The Malta Independent that the government and opposition are in talks to find dates that are suitable to both camps, but so far no decision has been taken.

The dates for the debates involving the 15 ministries will only be decided after the dates for the speeches by the Opposition Leader and the Prime Minister are established.