Speaker Anglu Farrugia has found PN MP Jason Azzopardi to be prima facie in breach of parliamentary privilege over comments he made on Justice Minister Owen Bonnici, in which he accused him of lying to Parliament. Soon after the ruling was read out, PN Leader Simon Busuttil said he backed Dr Azzopardi's comments completely and asked that the same ruling be applied to him.
At the start of this evening's sitting, Dr Farrugia asked Dr Azzopardi whether he would be taking back the comment, or at least change it. Dr Azzopardi said he wished he was in a position to do so but could not.
The Speaker said that in light of Jason Azzopardi's refusal to retract his comments he was finding the PN MP prima facie in breach of privilege.
At this point the Opposition Leader stood up in defence of Dr Azzopardi.
This irked the Justice Minister, who said that if the PN Leader was echoing Azzopardi's comments he would file for breach of privilege against the Opposition Leader as well.
Dr Farrugia cautioned all parties, telling them that, while they had a right to criticize they should not resort to insults.
Dr Busuttil took the floor again, reiterating his full backing for Dr Azzopardi's comments. "I am doing this because I believe in freedom of expression. Today, 30 years from the Tal-Barrani events, we have the Justice Minister trying to muzzle us. I want you (the Speaker) to apply the same ruling to me as well."
Dr Bonnici said he was disappointed by the Opposition Leader's attitude. "We come here to work not to be insulted. I will heed the Speaker's advice because I believe that we should rise above petty insults." The Justice Minister said he was not trying to muzzle anyone and said he was only using a procedure Azzopardi himself had used against journalists back in 2010.
from The Malta Independent http://ift.tt/2fRuOCo
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