Gonzi says Speaker should come from government benches

Opposition leader Lawrence Gonzi has urged the prime minister to nominate an MP from the government benches to serve as Speaker, saying that not doing so would show disrespect for the Constitution in view of the nine-seat government majority, which should have been seven seats had vote-counting errors been corrected. Dr Gonzi, himself a former Speaker from outside Parliament (when the parliamentary majority was smaller), made his comment in a Radio 101 interview. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has not indicated who he intends to nominate to preside the House, but former PL deputy leader Anglu Farrugia, who did not contest the election after resigning his party post, has said he would consider the position if it was formally offered to him. He had a brief meeting with Dr Muscat two weeks ago. Also being mentioned as possible Speaker is former Deputy Speaker and shadow minister Carmelo Abela, who was surprisingly not given a Cabinet post. A Speaker who is also a sitting MP loses his original vote but has a casting vote when there is a tie. Dr Gonzi said his government always took its decisions in the national interest, even when it knew it would not be popular. He admitted, however,...