Government Whip Naomi Cachia and Parliamentary Secretary Glenn Bedingfield addressed a press conference on Tuesday afternoon in front of the Nationalist Party headquarters, in Pietà, where it decried how the PN had been taken over by "an extremist faction."

Cachia and Bedingfield, spoke about the PN's irresponsibility towards the people they represent, following the motion presented by the government in solidarity with the Speaker and in condemnation of the arrogant behaviour, and contempt, by some of its MPs.

Parliamentary Secretary Bedingfield said that this evening, the Opposition would once again abdicate from its responsibility instead of choosing to debate the government's motion. He explained that Bernard Grech, "faced with problems and division within his Parliamentary Group, is favouring the politics of hatred, instead of respect, towards Speaker Anglu Farrugia."

The PN said that - for the second day running - it would be walking out of Parliament while a debating on a motion to reprimand PN MP Karol Aquilina takes place.

Bedingfield said Grech had shrugged off his responsibility and walked out of Parliament, having had to bow his head to what Nationalist MP and de facto PN leader Karol Aquilina, demanded of him. He recalled how it was Aquilina himself who infringed the standing orders governing Parliament and disrespected the Speaker and all Parliamentary MPs.

He said: "Bernard Grech is a weak leader in front of the de facto leader Karol Aquilina, who has now emerged as being clearly the leader of the Nationalist Party."

Whip Naomi Cachia said that people want decent politics and not behaviour like that demonstrated by the PN "extremists who have absolute control over their party." She explained that the motion presented by her was Government MPs duty to do so because they could not allow such attacks on the Speaker's integrity and that of Parliament itself.

She explained that Labour MPs wished that the Opposition would do its duty, but it is now clear that Grech is weak and has given in to the will of the extremists who called the shots within the PN.

She concluded that there are Nationalist exponents who do not want this type of extreme politics. She said that the opposition's decision should have been in favour of decency and against the politics of hatred.