The Nationalist Opposition this evening walked out of Parliament as No Portfolio Minister rose to speak.

Dr Mizzi is currently speaking about last night’s power cuts and will later speak about the ITS site land transfer.

He had barely spoken two words when Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil told the Speaker that the Opposition would be walking out since it did not recognise the legitimacy of a minister who has a secret company in Panama.

“It is not right that he addresses this house so we will walk out and only come back later to ask questions to the Prime Minister, who is the minister responsible for the sectors.”

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat reacted, saying that Simon Busuttil had gone back on his word. He said the Opposition had indicated yesterday that it would take part in the debate. He insisted that he had chosen Konrad Mizzi to lead the debate and answer questions.

The Opposition MPs replied by walking out of the chamber. 

Independent MP Marlene Farrugia asked the minister to give a clear deadline for the completion of the power station. “We are really started to believe that this is another Alice in Wonderland,” she said.

In a repetition of what happened this morning, Dr Mizzi failed to give a straight answer. He said the construction phase had been completed and the new plant was being tested. “In the coming weeks it will start working in an open cycle and after the necessary certification it will shift to a combined cycle,” he said. The conversion of the BWSC plant to run on gas will start tomorrow, with the process lasting several weeks.

Later on the Opposition walked into the chamber again for Mizzi's ministerial statement on the ITS site land transfer.