[WATCH] Opposition walks out of parliament in protest: 'Government censorship motion is fascist'

Updated at 5:22pm with Prime Minister's comments

Opposition MPs walked out of parliament in protest on Monday afternoon before the start of a debate on a government motion intended to condemn Opposition MP Karol Aquilina's behaviour.

Opposition leader Bernard Grech said the motion was “anti-democratic” and intended to censure its critics. He called it a “fascist motion”, insisting the Opposition could not be part of the debate.

Grech made his statement just before the motion started being debated. He said the government had captured the country’s institutions and was now trying to censure the Opposition in parliament.

On his way into parliament, Opposition leader Bernard Grech told journalists, the Opposition is “united against a dictatorial government”.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia retired from the chamber given that part of the motion concerned him. Labour MP Carmelo Abela took over as acting speaker.

The motion was put forward last week and comes on the back of some terse exchanges in parliament and outside it over the past weeks.

The situation came to a head last month when the Speaker ruled against the Opposition’s request to hold an urgent debate on the morrow of a clamorous drug heist from the army barracks. The sitting had to be interrupted, with Karol Aquilina directing harsh words towards the Speaker for blocking the debate.

Subsequently, the PN parliamentary group issued a statement echoing Aquilina’s protestations and condemning the Speaker for being partial.

The matter boiled over again last week when Aquilina had another run-in with the Speaker, prompting the government to file a motion calling for solidarity with the Speaker and condemning Aquilina’s behaviour.

Robert Abela: ‘PN parliamentary group is split’

The parliamentary debate was opened by Naomi Cachia, who expressed regret at the Opposition’s decision to abandon the chamber.

“The Opposition accused us of lying and had they remained here I would have liked them to point out where the lies are in the motion,” Cachia said.

Prime Minister Robert Abela also hit out at the Opposition’s actions, insisting the walk-out was the result of a split within the Nationalist parliamentary group. “The parliamentary group was split and could not agree on how to vote, which is why they chose to abandon the chamber,” Abela insisted, adding there were several PN MPs who did not agree with Karol Aquilina’s behaviour.

The Prime Minister accused the Opposition of lacking leadership as he asked what position Bernard Grech had on the matter. “They do not know what they stand for,” Abela said, painting a picture of a PN riven by factionalism.

Abela described Karol Aquilina as the “de facto leader” of the PN and accused the Opposition of having an “incestual relationship” with Repubblika, which he called “extremist”.

“It benefits us if they continue in this way but this is not healthy for democracy,” Abela said.

He also criticised former PN MP Jason Azzopardi for calling into doubt the integrity of two magistrates when filing an appeal to a rejection of his request for a magisterial inquiry.

“The PN is one and the same with Jason Azzopardi; twice they gave him air time on NET TV on the same day that his requests for magisterial inquiries were denied by the court,” he said.

What does government’s motion call for?

Motion 341 describes the Opposition’s criticism of the Speaker as a “partisan strategy” intended to “disrupt” the country’s legislative process. It also accuses the Opposition of disrespecting Standing Orders, rulings and decisions taken by the Speaker.

The motion also singles out PN MP Karol Aquilina and calls out what it describes as his “arrogant” behaviour.

The motion calls on the House to express solidarity with Speaker Anglu Farrugia. It also calls on the House to show support to the Speaker’s work, which he conducts in a “professional way and with integrity”.

The motion also calls on all MPs not to use offensive language against each other and the House’s procedures.

The motion also calls on the House to condemn Aquilina’s behaviour and asks the Opposition leader to ensure that instances of disorder such as those instigated by Aquilina will not happen again.

The motion was presented by government Whip Naomi Cachia on behalf of the Labour parliamentary group.