Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/183948
7 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2013 Opposition leader Simon Busuttil (centre) accused the government of trying to "muzzle" the Opposition's freedom of expression Nationalist MPs walk out of Parliament after Speaker's ruling Opposition to contest ruling, consider taking case to Constitutional Court, European Court of Human Rights MIRIAM DALLI OPPOSITION leader Simon Busuttil declared he will contest a ruling handed down by Speaker Anglu Farrugia which found him in breach of privilege. In a press conference convened in the courtyard at Parliament minutes after he walked out yesterday evening, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil accused the government of trying to "muzzle" the Opposition's freedom of expression. "The Opposition will be contesting the ruling, and if necessary take the case before the Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights," Busuttil told journalists in the hastily convened press conference. Flanked by his MPs, Busuttil accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of "using Parliament" to gag the Opposition. Speaker Anglu Farrugia ruled that Busuttil's allegation of "political interference" in the John Dalli case constituted a breach of privilege, because the Opposition leader failed to substantiate the allegation. On his part, Busuttil insisted he was basing his argument on the testimony given by former police commissioner John Rizzo, who told the court the Attorney General had given his go-ahead to arraign John Dalli. The arraignment however never occurred, and after Rizzo's resignation and the appointment of Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit, it was declared there was "no case" against Dalli. Busuttil concluded that there had been political interference. "I have been repeating this publicly several times, but the prime minister has decided to use Parliament to gag the Opposition. If he didn't agree with what I had publicly said, he could have sued me for libel. But he didn't," Busuttil said. Busuttil said it "didn't make sense" that something which could be said outside could not be said in Parliament. "What we are seeing here is the undermining of democracy," he added. Breach of privilege Farrugia was asked to investigate a possible breach of privilege by Simon Busuttil after the latter accused Prime Minister Joseph Muscat of "political interference" in the police investigation involving John Dalli in Parliament. Farrugia ruled that after Busuttil failed to substantiate his accusation, and having read the 40-page testimony given by former police commissioner John Rizzo, the Opposition leader was in "prima facie breach of privilege". But all hell broke loose when PN deputy leader Mario de Marco observed that such a ruling could be understood to mean that an MP could not come to his own "political conclusions". At this point, government whip Carmelo Abela said that a ruling could not be contested once this was handed down. Infrastructure Minister Joe Mizzi started shouting that de Marco was "abusing democracy", while Farrugia said, "Whether you like it or not, that is the ruling". Mizzi continued shouting that Parliament "was not court", with the Speaker repeatedly calling on Mizzi to shut up. Man accused of assaulting partner CHRIS MANGION ANTHONY Chircop, 36, of St Julians's was granted bail after pleading not guilty to grievously injuring his girlfriend. Prosecution inspector Luke Bonello told the court that in the early hours of Monday, 30 September, Chircop argued with his partner, Josephine Grima. The argu- ment took place at St George's Bay, St Julian's. During the argument the accused assaulted Grima, causing her grievous injuries. Chircop was also charged with trespassing on private property in Pietru d'Armenia Street, Pembroke, where Grima lives. Magistrate Giovanni Grixti granted Chircop bail against a deposit of €1,500 and a personal guarantee of €5,000. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges. After being granted bail, he sat down on a bench in the hall's, together with a police constable, and waited for his relatives to turn up with the bail money.