Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1465732
NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 APRIL 2022 5 KURT SANSONE THE Nationalist Party parlia- mentary group has yet to take a decision whether to support Anglu Farrugia's nomination for Speaker when parliament opens on 7 May. This will be Farrugia's third term as Speaker and the nomi- nation will have to be approved by a simple majority vote in parliament. "A meeting of the parliamen- tary group about the subject is still to be held," a spokesperson for the PN told MaltaToday, adding that Opposition leader Bernard Grech was not con- sulted by the Prime Minister on the nomination. On 14 April, Robert Abela said government will be nom- inating Farrugia for Speaker, insisting he saw no need for change in the role. This will be the first time that a Speaker is retained for a third term. In 2013, the Opposition had voted against Farrugia's nom- ination because then prime minister Joseph Muscat had not consulted it on the choice. However, in 2017, Farrugia was proposed for a second term and was approved unanimously. The Constitution makes no reference to consultation in the nomination of a new Speaker. The Speaker can be a sitting MP or someone from outside the House. The motion nominating the Speaker is filed by the prime minister and is the first vote that will be taken in the first session of parliament. MPs will then vote on a second motion to appoint the deputy speaker, which according to parliamen- tary practice has always been nominated by the Opposition. Grech has selected PN deputy leader David Agius for the role of deputy speaker when assign- ing new portfolios to his MPs after the election. In the last legislature, the deputy speaker role was occupied by Claudette Buttigieg. PN yet to decide on Anglu Farrugia Speaker nomination Speakers in the last five legislatures 13th Legislature (2017 - 2022) Anglu Farrugia 12th Legislature (2013 - 2017) Anglu Farrugia 11th Legislature (2008 - 2013) Louis Galea and Michael Frendo 10th Legislature (2003 - 2008) Anton Tabone 9th Legislature (1998 - 2003) Anton Tabone