Gonzi in strong reaction to appointment of new Speaker

Anglu Farrugia was sworn in as Speaker of the House of Representatives this morning following a motion moved in the new Parliament by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Opposition leader Lawrence Gonzi strongly objected to the motion and the appointment was made after a division, with 39 votes in favour and 30 against. In his speech, Dr Gonzi said the Opposition objected to the appointment, saying this was a mistaken decision about which the Opposition had not been consulted and something which sowed division. Dr Gonzi said this country needed unity, not division in such important times. He said the Opposition was reiterating that it would be constructive and it would cooperate with the government for job creation, sound finances and better quality of life for the people.  The Opposition's actions in parliament would be based on what it believed to be in the interests of the country.  He said the Opposition had collaborated with the government over the past days such as in changes of protocol on Freedom Day and the parliamentary programme. It had agreed to nominate a deputy speaker after the then opposition refused in the past three years. But the government was not reciprocating. It...