Malta, Times of Malta, Inglês

Parliament on Monday devolved into chaos as heated exchanges between government and opposition MPs saw insults and accusations thrown, and shouting matches dominated the session, delaying any serious debate and halting a ministerial statement the Prime Minister was about to give on Sunday’s 200kg drug theft.

Prime Minister Robert Abela was about to give his ministerial statement, but got stopped and delayed several times due to the constant heckling from both sides of the House, and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech’s continuous interruptions, repeating that the matter was not being taken seriously by both the Speaker and the government.

Farrugia gave a ruling in which it shot down the PN’s request for an urgent parliamentary debate on the matter, and cautioned Abela, as well as anyone who would be replying to his ministerial statement, to be careful with their words so as to not impose any prejudices on the existing investigations.

Two hours into the sitting, Abela was yet to make his statement, where he said he would exercise maximum caution in his speech, when he was yet again interrupted by Grech who said that Abela’s statement must be made disponible in writing beforehand, adding that Abela could not make the statement with just a couple of notes.

Grech said that the Speaker is not appreciating the seriousness of the matter, adding that Farrugia must not tolerate whatsoever any speech which attacks the other side of the House, but must only be factual on how the drugs were stolen, where it is now and who was responsible.

Abela almost began his speech when the session was suspended again after PN MP Alex Borg called a point of order after the Prime Minister, off mic, called him a “clown” (pulcinell).

Farrugia advised on the proper behaviour in the House, said that he would give a ruling, yet Borg requested that Abela withdraws his comment.

In reply, Abela said that it was first Borg who said that Abela did not deserve to be Prime Minister, and he would not be apologising given that Borg did not feel the need to apologise for his remarks against him.

Borg continued he felt offended that the other side of the House repeatedly called him, “Mr Facebook.”

Following PN MP Karol Aquilina’s heckling, Abela retorted that nobody wants to appoint Aquilina as their lawyer. Abella followed up with saying that the Opposition Leader had said that government is associated with criminals, to which Aquilina agreed.

Farrugia said that nothing was going to happen in today’s sitting. Addressing the Speaker, Grech said that Farrugia has the responsibility to not let alone, not even the PM, to use insulting words towards a member of the House, and requested an immediate ruling on whether the words used were offensive.

Abela then also requested a ruling by the Speaker on Grech’s words that government was associated with criminals.

After another suspension of Parliament, the Speaker gave a ruling where it deplored all improper behaviour in the sitting, and asked both the Opposition Leader and the Prime Minister to withdraw their statements.

Abela said he has respect for the Speaker’s ruling and withdrew the comment he made against PN MP Borg, despite it being a reactionary comment to what Borg had said against him.

On the other hand, Grech said he would not withdraw his statement as it has already been established that government was complicit with those who robbed the three hospitals and refused to comply with the ruling.

Farrugia said that he will take the necessary steps in that regard.

As Abela finally began his statement, he said that the police investigation into the matter is moving at a good pace, and the administrative inquiry he appointed will be led by Judge Emeritus Geoffrey Valencia.

He said he will be announcing the Board’s terms of references in the coming days.

Abela said that he will be speaking transparently, and all those involved in the theft will not escape justice. He said that the case requires political maturity, and government is taking the matter very seriously.

He said that he understood that the case brought about an element of public interest, and the priority should be that those involved will be caught and be brought to justice and condemned.

More heckling ensued, especially from PN MP Adrian Delia, which led to the sitting being suspended once again.

Once Parliament came back in session, Farrugia adjourned the sitting, with Abela continuing his ministerial statement in Tuesday’s Parliamentary session.