0.50 mid EDITORIAL 15 | TV & CINEMA 16 | WHAT’S ON 17 | SPORTS 220-230-23 € week EDITORIAL - The thorn in Gonzi's side pg 153 maltaISSUE 93 • WEDNESDAY, 28 JANUARY 2009 • WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MTtoday Gonzi spikes Muscat’s motion PM to change House timetable in bid to buy time ahead of debate on Cathedral extension to house its armoury in an underground MATTHEW VELLA vault, having even called on government to divert the funds to more deserving LAWRENCE Gonzi yesterday tabled initiatives. Pullicino Orlando has re- a procedural motion to change parlia- fused to declare his voting intentions on ment’s timetable for the first time in the motion tabled by Muscat. 30 years, in a bid to buy time ahead of a Muscat’s motion and Gonzi’s strategy private motion by Joseph Muscat to stop were in fact discussed yesterday during EU funds for the extension of St John’s a PN parliamentary group meeting. Co-Cathedral. Gonzi’s motion seeks to change the The procedural motion comes after a timetable of the House, so that when a ruling by the Speaker of the House on division (a vote) is called, it will be taken Monday, against the Opposition’s re- on the following Wednesday. That way, quest to adjourn the House on Thurs- government – which has a one-seat ma- day, and debate Muscat’s motion. jority – can ensure it will have all its Muscat’s motion calls on government members present for the vote. to revoke its backing for the Cathedral The new motion says changes to the project, which has €14 million in EU timetable are needed because ministers funds approved by the Planning and Pri- and MPs occasionally need to be away orities Coordination Division (PPCD) of on official business, and no pairing the Office of the Prime Minister. The agreement yet exists between the two motion notes the presence of Malta’s sides. Permanent Representative to the EU, Government Whip David Agius said Richard Cachia Caruana, as one of the that ministers and MPs were often oc- members of the Co-Cathedral Founda- cupied with EU business and that they tion, “which presence – in the absence have a duty to attend EU and other in- of a clear indication of the government ternational fora. priorities for the use of EU funds – cre- He said the changes were needed so ates a conflict of interest”. that the House could function effective- But Gonzi also has to contend with the ly in the absence of a pairing arrange- Gonzi will change Parliament's timetable to bypass fact that PN backbencher Jeffrey Pulli- ment – eight months after parliament the lack of a pairing agreement between the two sides of the House cino Orlando has spoken very strongly opened. The PN accused 3 against the extension of the Cathedral Labour of hindering the page 3 George Abela had been proposed for President in 2004 LAWRENCE Gonzi had first Gonzi then had just been elect- party general conference’s de- civil servant. Gonzi faced a great deal of flak proposed George Abela for the ed leader of the Nationalist Par- cision to go for early elections. Despite the absece if any disa- for his choice, while Fenech Ad- presidency back in 2004, ahead ty, after the resignation of Eddie Sources said Sant did not ex- greement between the two sides, ami publicly acknowledged the of Eddie Fenech Adami, this Fenech Adami in March 2004. press any disagreement with his it was Eddie Fenech Adami who resentment surrounding his ap- newspaper can confirm. The Labour party neither ob- nomination in 2004. would be appointed president pointment in his inauguration Well-placed sources privy to jected nor accepted the sugges- Labour had proposed its own in 2004. The Prime Minister speech. the dealings between both Gon- tion to nominate their former list of nominees, namely former communicated his decision to Abela, who was nominated for zi and then Opposition deputy deputy leader for party affairs. Ombudsman Joe Sammut, opt for Fenech Adami to then the presidency by Gonzi three leader Charles Mangion, con- But Abela was never nominat- Yvonne Micallef Stafrace, wife Labour deputy leader Charles weeks ago, instead found wide- firmed that the prime minis- ed in the end. of former Labour minister Joe Mangion. Gonzi had insisted spread support unlike his pred- ter first communicated Abela’s Abela had resigned from the Micallef Stafrace, and Joe Cur- that the decision was final and ecessor. name back in 2004. Labour Party in 1998 upon the mi, a little known former senior non-negotiable. Both Gonzi page 3 3 Newspaper post Newspaper.