Parliament reconvenes after Christmas recess, Cristina: 'surreal atmosphere'

Parliament resumed this evening with the majority of MPs from government's side present, as speakers from both sides of the House paid their condolences to Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech over the passing away of his mother.

PQ time was held as usual, with the air seemingly calm despite next week's debate over the Opposition's no-confidence motion in government. Earlier today, both government and opposition agreed that the debate should be held next week between Monday and Wednesday. The vote is to be taken at midday on Thursday.

Backbencher Franco Debono, who arrived in parliament at around 6pm, failed to say whether he welcomed the decision taken by the PN parliamentary group earlier this afternoon, when asked by journalists.

He took a seat at the very far end of the government benches and was welcomed by PN parliamentary group whip David Agius who sat with him for 15 minutes and was seen to go through a number of written parliamentary questions.

It is unknown what the two discussed but both seemed to talk light-heartedly and were later joined by MPs Jesmond Mugliett and Joe Falzon. No ministers were seen looking back or saluting Debono.

Earlier, the PN parliamentary group agreed for the debate to start on Monday with nine hours for its government MPs to debate the motion.

Opening the debate on amendments to the Education Act, Minister Dolores Cristina said that she was addressing the House under a "surreal atmosphere". Many of the MPs left as soon as Cristina started her debate, while Debono left a few minutes earlier.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat described the outcome of the PN parliamentary group as "better late than never", when asked by MaltaToday for a reaction. During the past week, the Opposition accused government of delaying tactics and filibustering over how the debate should take place in parliament.