Newly nominated Speaker of the House Carmelo Abela has described his nomination to the role as a great honour and a responsibility he had not expected, pledging to place a strong emphasis on respect within Parliament.

Speaking in a short video shared on the Malta Government's Facebook page, Abela said he felt honoured to be entrusted with leading the country's highest institution.

He added that while he had not anticipated the appointment, he fully recognised the significance of the role.

"The responsibility is a great one, vis-à-vis Parliament itself, the members who make up Parliament, the country in general, and also the international sphere where the Maltese Parliament is represented," he said.

Although acknowledging that he is still in the early days of his nomination, Abela identified parliamentary conduct and mutual respect among MPs as one of his key priorities.

"One of the things I will insist on strongly is the respect that members should have towards themselves and towards each other," Abela said.

He warned that a lack of respect within Parliament would undermine public trust and make it difficult to expect citizens to show the same regard for the parliamentary institution and its members.