Anġlu Farrugia makes an apology... and splits House

A conciliatory Anġlu Farrugia yesterday began his term as Parliamentary Speaker by apologising for any political wounds he might have inflicted and vowing to steer clear of partisanship. “My loyalty is to the people and the Constitution... I will defend every MP’s rights, and more importantly I will see to it that the rights of parliamentary minorities are safeguarded,” he said, shortly after being voted in on the back of the Government’s nine-seat majority. Dr Farrugia’s comments came minutes after a bellicose speech by Opposition leader Lawrence Gonzi, in which the former Prime Minister had accused his successor Joseph Muscat of using the Speakership post to settle personal political scores. The Nationalist Party has hit out at the Government for nominating Dr Farrugia, who until last December served as the Labour Party’s deputy leader, to the Speakership. The PN maintains the job should have been given to a Government MP, and that it should have been consulted. Dr Farrugia’s opening words were intended to mollify Nationalist party criticism over his appointment. But according to Dr Gonzi, it was the Government, not the new Speaker, who should apologise. “The person concerned...