Government, Opposition fail to agree on Parliamentary agenda

6.20pm Updated with PN statement

The government and Opposition this afternoon failed to agree on Parliament’s agenda for next week.

Agreement was especially hard to come by when MPs discussed when to debate Marlene Farrugia’s motion of censure against the Prime Minister's chief of staff Keith Schembri, as well as the Opposition's motion protesting Speaker Anglu Farrugia's amendment of the aforementioned motion.The House Business Committee met with urgency this afternoon and despite a heated debate that sometimes verged on a shouting match, both sides failed to budge, leaving both sides agreeing to disagree.

The government is proposing a debate on the Opposition’s appeal motion on Tuesday evening and a debate on Marlene Farrugia’s motion of censure on Wednesday. However, the Opposition disagreed.

The Opposition wants the appeal on the Speaker’s motion debated on Wednesday May 25 and Dr Farrugia’s censure motion debate at the next possible Parliamentary sitting – Monday May 30.

Independent MP Marlene Farrugia said these motions were of national importance and enough time had to be allowed between the two for the people to understand what was happening.

The government had...