A commemorative plaque featuring the names of all Speakers of the House of Representatives across Maltese history has been installed outside the Parliament Chamber, inside the Parliament building in Valletta, to commemorate 105 years since the first legislative assembly was held in the country among Maltese representatives.

Following an agreement between the Parliament’s House Business Committee, Wednesday’s plenary was suspended for a few minutes to allow MPs from both sides of the House to commemorate 105 years of the Maltese Parliament.

Aside from Wednesday’s commemoration, MPs will be convening for an event to mark this occasion on Thursday evening on the actual anniversary of the first legislative assembly among elected Maltese officials.

Speaker Carmelo Abela gave a speech during Wednesday’s plenary session to mark this special occasion. He mentioned some of the big changes that occurred throughout this time, such as Malta’s journey to become an independent and sovereign nation, and gave credit to MPs’ predecessors.

“For the first time, the people’s representatives had a forum where they could discuss topics of national importance and have a greater say in how to run their country,” Speaker Carmelo Abela said.

The plaque installed inside the Parliament building goes back to the Parliament of Malta’s inaugural Speaker, Edgar Arrigo. The plaque will be a permanent fixture right outside the Parliament Chamber, where plenaries are held.

Abela said that Arrigo deserves special recognition for his work as this national institution’s first Speaker. Abela observed that Arrigo had the duty of installing the necessary procedures for Parliament’s work to be done in an orderly manner – foundations that still matter today.

Speaker Abela said that while commemorating 105 years of parliamentary life in Malta, it’s important to look back at the representatives, clerks who have given their service to this assembly, and all Speakers who have contributed to Malta’s political journey.

The Speaker stated that while a lot has changed since the first organised assembly in 1921, one principle has remained consistent throughout: that Parliament exists to serve the people and foster democracy.

He advocated that both sides of the House continue to enshrine the values that this institution was founded upon, like responsible debate, accountability, and being of service to the people.

During his speech, Abela said that the Parliament can achieve more for the people it represents, and that while MPs must be grateful towards their predecessors on this anniversary, they must not forget to keep looking forwards.

He said that responsible debate is positive and must be safeguarded, while needless back-and-forth are not and only “deter us from what we are trying to accomplish.”

Prime Minister Robert Abela shared a few words on Parliament celebrating 105 years since its first autonomous government. He labelled this occasion as a constitutional achievement.

In a message to both parliamentary groups, the Prime Minister said that despite both sides’ diverging beliefs, they have the responsibility of ensuring that debate remains serious, that arguments are allowed to be heard, and that political differences are accompanies with respect towards one another as well as to the Parliament itself. He said that MPs’ behaviour within the Chamber’s walls has consequences, including how young people view political life.

Opposition leader Alex Borg said that every political achievement like this one places great responsibility on elected officials to take care of the country’s legislative institution, and its values, so that it can be passed down to future generations.

Borg said that when looking back to 1921, beyond the setbacks and advances made along the way, “we remember the leaders who worked for this change, as well as the Maltese and Gozitan workers who fought for us to have a better country.”

Borg stated that good conscience must accompany every decision made inside the Parliament building and that the general public deserves clear answers to all its questions. He added that as the elected majority has the duty to govern and lead discussions, the elected minority’s duty to scrutinise ensures that lawmakers are held accountable.

Following these speeches, Wednesday’s plenary was momentarily suspended for this plaque to be inaugurated outside the Chamber’s entrance.