Michael Frendo was unanimously elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in a special parliamentary sitting this evening.

He was nominated to the post by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and seconded by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.

Earlier, Dr Frendo, an MP since 1987, resigned his seat. Karl Gouder was co-opted to succeed him.

After taking his oath of office, Dr Frendo assumed the Chair and thanked Dr Gonzi, Dr Muscat and MPs for electing him as the 27th Speaker.

He said the agreement on his nomination filled him with courage and placed on him major responsibility which he accepted.

Dr Frendo thanked his predecessor Louis Galea and promised to do his utmost to follow in his steps. He said he would occupy his post in his own style and would also try to instill some wit and humour.

In moving the nomination, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said Dr Frendo enjoyed experience in the House as an MP and as chairman of the European and Foreign Affairs Committee. As president of the committee he had shown he was able to lead, indicating he had elements that had to be considered in the choice of who should preside the House.

Dr Muscat said Dr Frendo would have a very hard act to follow as Louis Galea's successor. He was to be the first Speaker to embark on his duties under the Lisbon Treaty which gave national parliaments a greater role.

The House, he said, had to have the necessary tools to fulfill its duties. As Speaker, he would also have to continue protecting and promoting the institutions of the House, namely the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Auditor General as well as continue presiding the Select Committee which was working on a number of reforms.

He said he was convinced Dr Frendo would be able to tackle this agenda and lead the House forward.

Earlier, Speaker Louis Galea tendered his resignation to take up his new post at the European Court of Auditors.

In a message to the House, he said he had always tried to work in the country’s and people’s interest within the team of his choice. But when he was appointed Speaker he rose above his party’s interests and worked in the interest of all without being bound to a particular party.

He thanked Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and former Labour leader Alfred Sant who had nominated him Speaker.

He said he had always respected all MPs, including those on the opposite side and his experience in the past two years had brought him closer to members.

In his deputy Carmelo Abela, Dr Galea said he had found an excellent collaborator who led the House in an excellent manner whenever he needed to do so.

He had a special word of thanks to party whips Joe Mizzi and David Agius and appealed to all members to obey them more willingly.

Dr Galea also thanked Leader of the House Tonio Borg, House Committee chairmen and members of the European Parliament, the Ombudsman, the Auditor General, the clerk of the House Pauline Abela, her deputies and other staff, including police and public officers who collaborated with the House. He also thanked the media.

Dr Gonzi, a former Speaker himself, thanked Dr Galea for his work as Speaker in the past two years. The Chair, he said, carried major responsibility and burdened its occupier with the duty to safeguard the dignity of the House. Both sides had noticed his commitment, together with that of Mr Abela for the institution to function.

Dr Gonzi said that Dr Galea's rulings had been fair and earned the support of both sides of the House.

He said he was convinced that the work he had embarked upon would be continued by his successor. He had risen to the challenge of leaving partisan politics behind to serve as Speaker, garnering national support.

Dr Galea would now be serving as a judge in the Court of Auditors taking on a job was successfully carried out by Josef Bonnici.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat said that he found in Dr Galea, a genuine interlocutor who had managed to rise above partisan politics, taking decisions in the interest of the country.

He said that he found in him a friend with whom he could share thoughts and look ahead in the interest of the people. His work as chairman of the House Select Committee was commendable and progress was registered because of his ability.

"Yours will be a very hard act to follow," he said.

Earlier, Karl Gouder was co-opted to the House to succeed Dr Frendo on the Nationalist benches.

In nominating Mr Gouder, Dr Gonzi said the PN felt it was its duty to propose someone from the same district as Dr Frendo.

Mr Gouder was young and joining other MPs in the House at an important moment for the development of the country.

His nomination was approved unanimously.

In a statement, the Nationalist Party congratulated Dr Frendo and thanked Dr Galea.

The party also congratulated its new MP Karl Gouder.