[WATCH] Sette Giugno | Speaker makes pitch for autonomous Parliament

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A stronger Maltese Parliament can only be achieved if its administrative autonomy is free from any influence of the government, Speaker Anglu Farrugia said.

Marking the Sette Giugno events at the Hastings Garden in Valletta, Farrugia said it was essential for Parliament to have total and absolute independence in carrying out its tasks.

Recounting Malta’s political successes through the decades, Farrugia said leaders have now taken a further step forward to address a long-standing demand. Speakers of the House of Representatives have repeatedly called to equip Parliament with the tools that enhance its administrative autonomy, while at the same time making it more open to public scrutiny. 

Farrugia said the appointment of the Commissioner for Standards and the establishment of the Standing Committee for Standards was a major step forward towards the strengthening of Parliament.

“Each and every Member of Parliament will be more accountable in the performance of his or her duties in public life. This is because according to what is being proposed in the same bill, any breach of the obligations emanating from the code of ethics shall be subject to investigation by an independent Commissioner and a Standing Committee composed of two Members from each side of the House,” the Speaker said.

“The fact that the Maltese Parliament shall be discussing this Bill on Standards in Public Life should be considered as an important step forward for this Institution. I now augur that this bill be considered and approved by the House as soon as possible.” 

The Bill calls for the establishment of a Parliamentary Service with a view of giving the Maltese Parliament administrative autonomy. Malta is the only EU country with a Parliament that lacks any form of administrative autonomy.

The Bill also propose for parliament to have its own television channel.

Farrugia said parliamentary autonomy will be further enhanced in the coming weeks and months when the Maltese Parliament relocates from the Grandmasters’ Palace to its new premises.

“Works are expected to be completed this summer, and I hope that during the summer recess we shall be in a position to relocate our offices in the new building, with the aim of convening the House in the new premises immediately thereafter,” the Speaker said.

“This is an important and historical step as for the first time the Maltese Parliament shall have its own edifice and shall therefore be an autonomous entity even from an infrastructural perspective.”

The new parliament will be equipped for online video streaming of the plenary sessions. This service will be another important step towards creating greater public awareness about the work carried out by all elected representatives in their bid to further the interests of the constituents they represent.

The Speaker reiterated his call for MEUSAC – the Malta-EU steering action committee – to be brought under Parliament’s wing. 

“Through such an initiative the House of Representatives would be able to benefit from this entity’s resources, and therefore be in a better position to scrutinize European directives and regulations and take positions which would also take into consideration feedback from civil society,” Farrugia said.

The Speaker reminded the government that this was also an electoral pledge the Labour Party made.

Reiterating the work that need to be done for the Constitutional reform, Farrugia said there was an urgent need for the Standing Orders of the House to be revised thoroughly and increase efficiency in parliamentary work.

In his concluding remarks, Farrugia urged politicians to strive towards empowering the Maltese people to be able to keep on choosing what is best for them and for their country.

“The memory of the Sette Giugno martyrs should inspire us to continue striving towards the strengthening of a patriotic love for our country and a sense of national responsibility,” he said.

Sette Giugno riots

Four Maltese rioters - Manwel Attard, Guzè Bajada, Wenzu Dyer and Karmenu Abela – were shot dead by British troops in Valletta during the “Sette Giugno” riots of 90 years ago. The riots were sparked off when the aftermath of the Great War brought with it economic depression.

The incident is now commemorated by a public holiday, and is often presented as an act of sedition against the Colonial forces, as well as an early manifestation of Maltese nationalism.

Following the incident, the National Assembly was founded leading to a formal request for the island’s self-government. In March 1989, Malta declared 7 June as a national holiday.