The Labour Parliamentary Group will not allow the Nationalist government to steam ahead like a bulldozer because it has a majority of five deputies, said Opposition Leader Alfred Sant yesterday.

Dr Sant was addressing a press conference in Parliament in the presence of the Labour Parliamentary Group.

He said that what Information Technology and Investment Minister Austin Gatt said in Parliament is “scandalous”.

In Parliament last Wednesday, Dr Gatt had said the government had a safe majority of five deputies in the House of Representatives, so a resolution on the transfer of land from the government to Tecom would pass anyway.

The Malta Labour Party presented a motion in parliament on Tuesday calling for the resignation of Minister Gatt, who in turn replied that the motion was only an opportunity for the opposition to create another political gimmick.

In the motion presented by Deputy Leader Charles Mangion and Labour Whip Joe Mizzi, the Labour Party accused Dr Gatt of “abuse of power” and that his actions “denigrated the highest authority of the land, rendering Parliament a rubber-stamping institution”.

“What Dr Gatt said in parliament is an act of contempt and humiliation towards Parliament’s role,” Dr Sant said yesterday. “This was reflected in Speaker of House of Representatives Anton Tabone speech this morning (yesterday) during the Sette Giugno commemorative ceremony.”

Dr Sant was referring to Mr Tabone’s speech where he urged all MPs to constantly keep in mind the importance of tolerance, mutual respect and respect towards Parliament’s institution.”

Dr Sant pointed out that Dr Gatt’s attitude does not reflect the Speaker’s sentiment but contradicts it.

Last Wednesday’s incident is one of a series which confirm the government’s lack of respect towards Parliament and is a threat to democracy, said Dr Sant.

Mr Mizzi explained that last Wednesday he asked Dr Gatt if a resolution was placed before Parliament on the transfer of land belonging to Maltacom.

Mr Mizzi pointed out that while Dr Gatt admitted a resolution should have been placed, there was no need since the government had a majority of five deputies.

“I found his attitude extremely arrogant and called for a quorum,” said Mr Mizzi. “However, it is ironic that while Dr Gatt boasted the government’s majority of five deputies, there weren’t even 14 government MPs present to continue the parliamentary session.”

Dr Mangion said the motion presented on Tuesday by the Labour Parliamentary Group explained clearly that Minister Gatt’s attitude is unacceptable and anti-democratic.

The motion requested Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to condemn Dr Gatt’s action while calling for Dr Gatt’s resignation.

The motion also calls for all MPs to reconfirm their loyalty and respect towards Parliament, added Dr Mangion.

“It is extremely important that this motion is discussed as urgently as possible and should be excluded from the usual time limitations to allow all MPs to express themselves on the issue,” concluded Dr Sant.