The much-awaited vote on the motion moved by Environment and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino to approve the new development boundaries was approved in Parliament yesterday, with 33 votes in favour and 28 votes against in the two votes taken.

The vote was taken strictly on party lines, with all 33 government MPs voting in favour of the motion and the 28 Opposition MPs voting against. One government MP, Dr Mario Demarco and two Labour MPs, Dr Chris Cardona and Karmenu Vella were absent for the vote. There was no arrangement for pairing according to Opposition Whip Joe Mizzi.

The atmosphere was extremely tense as Opposition Leader Dr Alfred Sant rose to declare that the Opposition had a free vote on the matter and thus requested a voice vote which was agreed by the government MPs.

After the first vote, which was passed by 33 votes to 28, Labour MP Joe Debono Grech rose on a point of order to ask those voting to declare their intentions loudly as the government MPs could not be heard.

Uproar then ensued, with both sides of the House hurling insults at each other in a scene that was reminiscent of other turbulent times in the Chamber.

Another Labour MP, José Herrera, hurled various accusations towards the government benches related mainly to building contractors.

At one point, Flimkien Ghall Ambjent Ahjar spokesperson Astrid Vella and other prominent environmentalists also entered the chamber, prompting the Opposition to begin taunting the government side that they were not shouting loudly enough because they were afraid of the environmentalists.

The charade continued after the vote, with Mr Debono Grech and PN MP David Agius exchanging insults.

Before parliament began its evening session, a coalition of environmentalist NGOs protested in front of the palace in a last ditch attempt to stop the new development boundaries from being approved.