Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/926403
10 YANNICK PACE COMMERCIAL sensitivity was cited by the last Labour admin- istration in its replies to parlia- mentary questions (PQ) more frequently than during the two legislatures preceding it, accord- ing to an analysis of PQs carried out by MaltaToday. In fact, 184 replies referred to the commercially sensitive nature of the subject in question during the last legislature, compared with 93 during the 2008-2013 legislature and 107 between 2003 and 2008. There were 453 sittings dur- ing which PQs were asked in the 2013-2017 legislature, 495 during the 2008-2013 legislature and 606 between 2003 and 2008. An av- erage of 86 questions per sitting were asked during the 2008-2013 legislature, followed by 73 in eve- ry sitting between 2013 and 2017 and 52 between 2003 and 2008. A number of trends emerged from the analysis, including a shift in concerns among parliamen- tarians as the realities facing the country changed over the years. There was a notable drop in ques- tions regarding out of stock medi- cines, water and electricity tariffs and immigration, as traffic, direct orders and the use of positions of trust, and other issues related to good governance took centre stage in parliamentary debates. 2003-2008: Road to Euro The legislature started off with Eddie Fenech Adami as Prime Minister, having seen the Na- tionalist Party return to power with a mandate to complete the process leading to Malta becom- ing a member of the European Union (EU). He resigned in Feb- ruary 2004 and was succeeded by Lawrence Gonzi, who was head of the government when Malta joined the EU in 2004. Following his resignation as Prime Minister, Eddie Fenech Adami was appointed President of the Republic. Gonzi's first term was charac- terised by structural and fiscal reform in preparation for Malta's adoption of the Euro. Tonio Borg, who was Deputy Prime Minister and Justice and Home Affairs minister at the time was the cabinet member asked the greatest number of questions, according to the data. 2008-2013: Walking on thin ice The Nationalist Party retained control of the government after winning the 2008 general election by a narrow margin, having failed to obtain an absolute majority. Lawrence Gonzi appointed what was essentially the first cabinet to truly have his stamp on it, and which was also the smallest cabi- net in Malta's political history. The legislature was character- ised by a continuous internal tur- moil given the government's slim one-seat majority and a revived Opposition led by Joseph Muscat. maltatoday SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2018 News Censu Galea 2698 Jason Azzopardi 2233 Claudette Buttigieg 1828 Toni Bezzina 1795 Chris Said 1717 Censu Galea 3089 Anthony Agius Decelis 2975 Leo Brincat 2787 Anton Refalo 2575 Noel Farrugia 2474 Carmelo Abela 3246 Noel Farrugia 2816 Leo Brincat 2478 Evarist Bartolo 2126 Chris Agius 1876 Toni Bezzina Evarist Bartolo Carmelo Abela Most frequent exchanges MPs who asked most PQs Most frequent exchanges MPs who asked most PQs Most frequent exchanges MPs who asked most PQs 894 1277 1505 Joe Mizzi Dolores Cristina Louis Galea Legislature 2003 - 2008 Sittings: 606 Number of questions asked: 31440 MP that answered most questions: Tonio Borg Legislature 2008 - 2013 Sittings: 495 Number of questions asked: 42805 MP that answered most questions: Tonio Fenech Legislature 2013 - 2017 Sittings: 453 Number of questions asked: 33163 MP that answered most questions: Joe Mizzi House data reveals commercial sensitivity cited more under Labour