The Speaker would be acting brazenly if he spoke on strengthening democracy on the occasion of the Sette Giugno when “the arrogance of corruption” was felt within Parliament itself, Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo said on Wednesday.
Speaking on the adjournment, Mr Vassallo referred to the fact that the Speaker had given a ruling instructing MPs to wear jackets in the House and said the Speaker was also bound to address the “moral deficit” prevailing in Parliament.
He said the Speaker should draw attention to the disregard for the separation of powers resulting from the appointment of an MP to serve as the chairman of a regulatory authority.
He was indirectly referring to the fact that government MP Manuel Mallia serves as non-executive chairman of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.
After Mr Vassallo cautioned the Speaker to avoid putting his own impartiality into question, the Speaker warned the Opposition MP to make his arguments - “which went completely contrary to the separation of powers” - without addressing him further.
Mr Vassallo also stated that the ideal of “the end justifies the means” would be Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s legacy after 10 years as Prime Minister.