As expected, the wording of the Nationalist Party's motion which called for the resignation of three ministers was shot down due to the Labour Party's strong majority in Parliament, as a proposal for substantial amendments filed by PL MPs was approved.

The PN had filed a no confidence motion in Energy Minister Miriam Dalli, Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri following the conclusions of the Jean Paul Sofia public inquiry, who died in a construction collapse in Paola in December of 2022.

The motion read that the three ministers had to shoulder responsibility for the failures of the executive through the entities that fell under their responsibility and which, over the years, they were or are entrusted to lead.

The Nationalist Party's motion, among other things, called on Parliament to strongly censure Economy  Minister Silvio Schembri, Energy Minister Miriam Dalli and Lands Minister Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. It went on to ask the Prime Minister to demand their resignation from their ministerial posts and, if they fail to do so, to fire them. Among other things, it called on Parliament to apologise to the parents of Jean Paul Sofia regarding the vote it had taken in July, where the government did not support a motion by the Opposition to launch a public inquiry into Sofia's death. It also called on government to, every four weeks, present a report to Parliament regarding its progress in implementing the recommendations of the inquiry board, while also calling for the implementation of the inquiry recommendations within six months.

But an amendment tabled on Thursday by PL Whip Naomi Cachia and Justice Minister Jonathan Attard, on behalf of the Labour Party's Parliamentary Group, made substantial changes to the PN's motion. Among other things, it removed any mention of censuring or having no confidence in the three ministers, and removed calls for their resignation or removal.

While it still mentioned an apology to the Sofia family, the wording was different. The amendment called on Parliament to extend an apology to the parents of Jean Paul Sofia, "that was made in the discourse of the Prime Minister in Parliament on 28 February, when the public inquiry report was tabled in parliament." It also called on Parliament to unite with the government to, in the name of the Maltese state, show deepest sympathy with the families of all victims who were injured or lost their lives at the workplace, and show regret for the state the construction sector was allowed to operate in over the past 50 years. It also It called on Parliament to recognise that the road ahead is in the implementation of the board of inquiry recommendations, and in continuing to implement reforms in the government's programme, "and that this has to happen in the quickest time possible and with wide consultation with the aim of the implementation being truly effective and that standards are increased."

The PL's amendments also called on Parliament to encourage the government to continue implementing reforms "with a widespread effort to raise standards in the construction sector and see that the industry works with respect towards everyone." It called on Parliament to urge the government to, "as it is already doing", start giving an account to Parliament, society and the Sofia family in particular, regarding the implementation of the public inquiry recommendations," and it called on Parliament to oblige the government to, within a year from the publication of the inquiry report, bring the implementation of the inquiry recommendations for the consideration of Parliament through a debate.

PN Whip Robert Cutajar, then filed a counter-amendment to the PL's amendment, proposing that it be reverted to the PN's original motion, with one addition, calling on Parliament to express the deepest sympathy with the families of all victims who lost their lives at the workplace or in their home due to construction work.

The PN's amendment was voted down. The PL's amendment was approved with 41 MPs voting in favour and 32 against, thus changing the wording of the original motion to that proposed by the PL MPs. The amended motion was then approved with the same number of votes.

Miriam Dalli, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Silvio Schembri did not speak during the debate.