Parliament is set to reconvene today after a controversial four-week Easter break which continued to fuel the general feeling that the government is playing for time as it seeks to see out its term and stave off an early election.

While no agenda for the sitting has been formalised, it seems like it will be business as usual – at least for a while. For there is the matter of a money bill – the Budget Implementation Bill – which needs to be approved by 14 May, as reported in our sister paper, The Malta Independent on Sunday.

This crucial vote will surely be the biggest test of the government’s parliamentary majority, given the rustlings from the backbenches. If the government has to rely on the Speaker’s vote again, the pressure would be too much and we might really be entertaining the prospect of an early election. One thing is certain, the movements have already begun and as we mentioned in previous leading articles, it seems that there is already a silent election campaign that is gearing up – particularly through social media and the internet.

But back to parliament, there are no less than 14 bills on the agenda, and that number is set to increase further with a Bill proposing the necessary legal amendments for the admission of new members to the Malta Council of Economic and Social Development (MCESD). That Bill’s first reading is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, parliament will also have to discuss the Opposition’s parliamentary motion calling for the Prime Minister to dismiss Malta’s Permanent EU Representative in Brussels Richard Cachia Caruana from his post. PL spokesman George Vella quoted a Wikileaks cable that claims Dr Cachia Caruana decided to reactivate Malta’s membership in Nato’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) without parliamentary consent back in 2008. This happened after the last general election, but before Parliament’s first sitting. Dr Vella accused the government of putting the interests of a foreign country above that of Malta.

Of course, Labour is playing to Franco Debono’s gripes, with Mr Cachia Caruana being a target for harsh criticism. Last month, Dr Debono lambasted Dr Cachia Caruana in this newspaper, in the social media and eventually in Parliament.

In another issue, no date has been set for debating Labour’s motion on Justice and Home Affairs. Dr Mifsud Bonnici has been relieved of the justice portfolio, which went to Minister Chris Said, and assumed the role of Leader of the House, replacing Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg.

It is going to be a busy few weeks, if not months, ahead in the House of Representatives. One wonders whether all the issues on the agenda will be cleared up before the house rises for summer recess, if, of course; the government survives these crucial votes. The key lies in Franco Debono – will he, or will he not force the Prime Minister’s hand. Will it be a long hot summer of electoral campaigning and speeches or will be it business as usual? We shall have to wait and see.