Anglu Farrugia is expected to remain Speaker of the House for an unprecedented third term, with Prime Minister Robert Abela telling journalists on Thursday that he sees no need for change.

Farrugia has served as Speaker since 2013.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the swearing-in of two new Cabinet members, Abela said Farrugia had enacted “important reforms”, such as giving Parliament administrative autonomy. “I don’t see the need for change in the role,” he said.

The PM’s comments put paid to speculation that a new Speaker will be appointed. Former minister Michael Farrugia was among a number of individuals that were being tipped for the post.

The Speaker is appointed by simple majority, which means that the government will have no trouble in reappointing Farrugia to the post.

The move is expected to irk the Nationalist Opposition, which has often accused Farrugia of acting as a gatekeeper for the government. This includes the light ‘reprimand’ that Farrugia sent to former Parliamentary Secretary Rosianne Cutajar after she was found in breach of ethics in a property deal involving 17 Black owner and suspected Daphne Caruana Galizia murder mastermind Yorgen Fenech.

The Prime Minister said, meanwhile, that IVF law reforms will be at the top of Parliament’s agenda when it reopens on 7 May.

Labour has promised to provided backdated payments for couples who sought IVF treatment.

The revamped American University of Malta contract will also be presented to Parliament for approval, Abela said. The PM had previously announced that the government will be taking back a tract of land that had been given to the university in Zonqor, Marsascala. AUM will instead shift to Smart City.