The 14th legislature since Independence opened today with a ceremony that was held at the House of Representatives in Valletta.
Mass was said at St John's Co-Cathedral, following which all 79 Members of Parliament walked up Republic Street to the Parliament building where they took their oath of office.
This is the largest Parliament Malta ever had, largely as a result of the gender-corrective mechanism that led to the election of 12 women MPs, six on each side.
The House has appointed its Speaker, Anglu Farrrgia, for the third consecutive term. It is the first time in history that a Speaker was nomi9nated for three legislatures in a row.
The Opposition voted against the nomination. Appointing a Speaker only requires a simple majority vote, meaning the government did not need the Opposition’s backing for such a nomination.
Explaning the PN's decision, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech said that “it would have been better if there had been a consultation on this matter. Thus, this side of the house will be voting against Anglu Farrugia being named as Speaker due to the lack of impartiality showed in the last legislature.”
Grech wished Farrugia well for his appointment, saying that despite the stand of the Opposition he will still be named as Speaker of the House.
“I hope that in this legislature, Farrugia will act in an impartial manner,” Grech said.
Reacting, Prime Minister Robert Abela said that “it is surreal how in the first speech in parliament made by the Opposition, Grech is already accusing the Speaker of the House of lack of impartiality.”
“The attitude of the Opposition goes to show that the decision that was made on 26 March did not instigate a change. I hope that this will not be the attitude that the Opposition will take during this legislature, but it’s already not looking hopeful,” Abela said.
Abela noted that he was extending a hand of friendship to reach some kind of compromise over the choice of a new ombudsman, but this has been pending since March 2021.
He then said that the government went a step forward and agreed that the Deputy Speaker should be named from the side of the Opposition. Thus, the government will be voting in favour.
A vote was taken and the motion nominated Farrugia as Speaker was passed, with the Opposition voting against.
In 2013, when Farrugia had been first proposed, the PN had voted against the nomination, but in 2017, when Farrugia was nominated for the second time, the PN had voted in favour.
Now, in 2022, the PN has again voted against the nomination.
PN Deputy Leader David Agius was then approved unanimously by the House as the deputy speaker.
The 79 MPs then took the oath of office, starting with the Prime Minister Robert Abela, followed by the Leader of the Opposition, Bernard Grech and Labour deputy leader Chris Fearne, who is also the Leader of the House.
The first to be sworn in were the ministers and parliamentary secretaries.
The rest of the MPs followed, in alphabetical order.
The last to take the oath of office was Raldolph Debattista, who has been co-opted to fill up a seat vacated on the ninth district.
The longest-serving MP is Anton Refalo, who was first elected in 1987.
President George Vella later addressed the asembly.
