Saturday, 10th May 2008 - 11:31CET
Louis Galea sworn in as Speaker
Louis Galea has been sworn in as the new Speaker of the House of Representatives while Labour MP Carmelo Abela has been sworn in as Deputy Speaker for another term.
Dr Galea was escorted into the Chamber of the House by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Alfred Sant and took the oath of allegiance from the Chair. There was applause from both sides of the House.
In a short address he thanked the House for having appointed him, particularly the prime minister for nominating him and Dr Sant for seconding his nomination.
Dr Galea said that after having served in the House for 32 years almost equally divided between the opposition and the government, serving from the Chair in the middle of the Chamber was a new experience.
Dr Galea said he wanted to apologise for any mistakes he made during his political life, or for having offended anyone.
He said that while in the past 40 years of political life had had served according to the principles of a political party he would henceforth act above party politics and would jealously guard his impartiality and the role of Parliament and its members.
Dr Galea said he was aware of the talks taking place between both sides for the better running of the House and augured that agreement would be reached. He said that in the national interest, he would be prepared to step down if both sides agreed to nominate somebody else.
Labour MP Carmelo Abela was then sworn in as Deputy Speaker and promised to serve the House loyally as he did in the past legislature.
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Comments
I think that this is going to ruin his Piano lessons....!!!!!
Oh Well.... I guess Dr. Galea will have ample time for these lessons, when he becomes the President of The Republic of Malta, in a few months time...!!!!
Isn't this appointment in line with MLP's proposal?
To the one who asked whether it is normal for the Opposition to second the nominee for his/her appointment as Speaker of the House, the answer is yes since formal discussions always take place between the two represented parties and especially when there exists a narrow majority. There is nothing for the Opposition to gain from not endorsing a Speaker who was not elected for either party
Louis Galea has served the country well in any position he occupied and will no doubt make a good Speaker.
Had Labour won the election, one can be assured that they would have scratched the back of one of their own if only to prove that they were a government of the Laburisti first and foremost - as openly promised!
Dear Salv Gatt - You said "then we would know whether the MLP would be in the right track to change and show us that their main interest is to see our country move forward."
What kind of idtiots, you think, the MLP are. If the MLP accept the speaker position, it will be for the main interest of the PN and not of Malta!
So come on, and speak the truth, you can do better :)
Emmy Bezzina
LEADER : Alpha Liberal Democratic Party
alpha@emmybezzina.org.
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