Debono Grech apologizes over 'threats' to Farrugia, says he 'meant no disrespect’

Labour backbencher Joe Debono Grech has formally apologized for telling independent MP Marlene Farrugia that he would “come and beat her up” during a parliamentary sitting on Friday.

In a formal letter of apology read out by Speaker Anglu Farrugia, Debono Grech wrote that he “didn’t intend to disrespect Farrugia or women in general”.

“I form part of the Labour Party, that has always been on the forefront in progressing women’s rights,” he wrote. “What happened on Friday was the result of my character to always speak my mind, but I still apologize unreservedly for any offence I might have caused”

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil this morning presented a parliamentary motion demanding that Speaker Anglu Farrugia’s ruling be changed to condemn and suspend Debono Grech for his comments. Labour MPs had also accused their former colleague of calling Debono Grech a “simpleton”, “corrupt” and that “nobody wanted him”.

In his ruling on Monday, the Speaker ordered both MPs to retract their comments, prompting the Opposition to walk out in a show of protest that the Speaker’s identical treatment of both cases.