Decision on new Speaker in mid-April - PM

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Louis Galea, is expected to step down in May and a decision on his replacement will be taken in mid-April, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said today.

Asked if the Opposition would be involved, he recalled that at the beginning of the legislature he had offered the post of Speaker to the Opposition as part of an arrangement which would have included pairing. But the Opposition had been negative through the legislature and he did not see how the situation could be unblocked unless they had a change of mind.

Dr Galea is to step down to take up a position in the European Court of Auditors.

Speaking at an activity in Mgarr, Dr Gonzi said that yesterday's meeting of the PN parliamentary group had been a productive one. Several proposals had been made and would be discussed further, he said. He hoped to announce initiatives shortly.