So it’s back to parliament after a break of nearly three months, although one in which politicians have not shied away from the limelight.

For what it’s worth, parliament’s agenda currently consists of 13 bills in their second reading and a handful of motions. But parliament’s work is arguably playing second fiddle to the fact that the government is far from assured it will survive the last few months of its term.

After all, the government lost its parliamentary majority over the summer, with newly-independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando only pledging support on issues aligned to its electoral manifesto, and asking to be consulted on others. And the remaining government MPs include Franco Debono, whose vote in a no-confidence motion forced the resignation of Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and who is now threatening to file similar motions against ministers Joe Cassar and Austin Gatt.

As a result, while such a lengthy break is not unusual – last summer’s recess was of similar length – one may be forgiven for suspecting that the government is playing for time. Regular business was also delayed by one more day yesterday to pay tribute to former prime minister Dom Mintoff.

Additional time allows for the completion of a number of projects – including the new Parliament Building in Valletta – which would give the government more tangible achievements to boast about as the country heads to the polls.

The more cynical among us would also be inclined to think that this additional time would also be utilised to bridge the gap with voting segments deemed to have drifted away from the government for various reasons, perhaps through pre-election deals. Rightly or wrongly, recent announcements such as the salary increases for civil servants will inevitably be interpreted in this light by many.

But on the other hand, the government is now set to present a budget in roughly a month’s time, with no assurance that it will be approved since Dr Debono is insisting that he will be voting it down.

If the government defies the odds and somehow makes it to term, it would head to polls bruised and battered, perhaps forcibly shorn of a few more ministers. Labour, inevitably, would continue to depict the government and the prime minister as clinging to power at all costs.

One can also hope that if a budget is approved, it does not follow the tradition of unusually generous pre-election budgets: The financial and economic situation in Europe makes it far too risky a prospect.

A government collapsing on a budget vote is hardly the most dignified exit it could hope for, and would also likely influence the perceptions of foreign observers and credit rating agencies.

The prime minister is ruling out calling an early election, and arguably, this may not be a viable option so close to budget day.

But after months of disputes, delaying tactics and ill-advised appeasement attempts, one can only hope that the prime minister’s refusal to head to the polls ahead of time was not an attempt to avoid an undignified end to this present legislature. At this point in time, a less-than-glorious end is practically a foregone conclusion.