Update 2 | Government, Opposition in war of words over quorum

Government and Opposition engaged in a war of words after parliament this morning failed to meet quorum.

The House of Representatives was about to continue with its discussion on the Individual Investor Programme when the Opposition called for quorum. A quorum requires at least 15 members of parliament to be present in the Chamber for the plenary session to be held.

It is the government's responsibility to ensure there is a quorum.

But with only 11 ministers present and one MP from the Opposition's side - after four others walked out of the Chamber but remained in the parliament building - quorum was not reached and the session was called off.

In separate statements, the government and opposition blamed each other for the morning's developments.

The government accused the Nationalist opposition of adopting "puerile delaying tactics to deny the country opportunities of investment through the Individual Investor Programme".

Half of the projected income from the IIP, €15 million, have already been included in the government's budgetary estimates for next year. However, amendments to the Maltese Citizenship Act have yet to be approved.

The final vote was to be taken this evening.

The government insisted that both sides had already agreed on the number of sessions to discuss the citizenship act.

"The government is committed to carry out its duty. The Opposition's repeated calls for quorum are simply delaying tactics by those who have an interest in hindering the process. The question remains: in whose interest was this being done?"

The Opposition has been accused by the government of an agenda which went "hand in hand" with that of a financial advisory company who was not awarded the tender to become the exclusive concessionaire of the IIP scheme.

On its part, the Nationalist Party said it was ironic that while the Prime Minister wanted MPs to be paid according to their attendance in parliament, the government did not have quorum.

This, the PN added, was symptomatic to an "arrogant government that fails to practice what it preaches".

It explained that out of the 39 government MPs, not even 15 were present even though the Prime Minister had declared that MPs should be paid according to their attendance.

"Power has gone to government's head. It fails to practice what it preaches. The government should be ashamed of itself. The Opposition condemns the government's attitude and declares it will continue to defend the Maltese citizenship."

Earlier

Opening remarks by parliamentary secretary for justice Owen Bonnici prompted the whip of the Opposition to call for a quorum.

Taking the floor on the controversial citizenship by investment programme, Bonnici said that while eight sessions have been dedicated to the citizenship scheme, very few members of the Opposition attended the sessions - with the exception of Opposition whip David Agius who was present for all sessions.

At that moment, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil turned to Agius and asked him call for a quorum before exiting the Chamber.

Only a handful of government MPs were present in the House.

As soon as Agius called for a quorum, ministers started trickling in but quorum was not met. A quorum requires 15 MPs, irrespective of which side, to be present in the Chamber.

Parliament has now been adjourned to 4pm. It is unclear whether the final vote will be taken this evening.