Anglu Farrugia touted for Speaker of the House

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is expected to announce his former deputy leader for parliamentary affairs, Anglu Farrugia, will be appointed Speaker of the House in today's Cabinet announcement.

Farrugia resigned in December 2012, less than a week after the MP's insinuations on a judge's decision being politically motivated, and his disastrous encounter in the live Xarabank debate with Nationalist deputy leader Simon Busuttil.

Muscat had denied any link between the resignation and Farrugia's flop on PBS during a Xarabank, insisting that Farrugia had taken responsibility for having insinuated that a decision by Magistrate Audrey Demicoli on corrupt practices during the 2008 general elections, could have been politically motivated by the fact that her father Saviour Demioli is part of the Nationalist Party's establishment.

The deputy leader's resignation was providential after his ineffective performance on Xarabank gave the PN's newly elected deputy leader Simon Busuttil the edge, highlighting his charisma and ability to parry with political opponents.

Farrugia subsequently decided not to contest the elections.

Between 1977 and 1996, the 57-year-old lawyer from Mosta worked as a police officer reaching the rank of Superintendent. In 1996, Farrugia debuted in the political arena and contested on the Labour ticket, and was elected into Parliament on first count in 1996.

During the 1996-1998 short-lived Labour administration, Farrugia served as chairman of House Committee for the consideration of bills, and later, following the collapse of the Labour government and the subsequent 1998 election, he served as an MP on the Opposition benches.

He unsuccessfully contested the role of deputy leader for party affairs in 1998, winning 24% of party delegates' votes. Between 1998 and 2008 he served as shadow minister for justice. In 2008, he was elected Labour deputy leader for parliamentary affairs with 64% of the vote.