Carmelo Abela appointed Speaker, Bernard Grech as Deputy Speaker<\/p>\n
Carmelo Abela is the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, succeeding Anglu Farrugia.<\/p>\n
His nomination was approved by both sides of the House as it met in Valletta at the start of the 15th legislature since Independence.<\/p>\n
Former Nationalist Party leader Bernard Grech was then also approved as the Deputy Speaker, again with a unanimous vote. The nomination was made by Prime Minister Robert Abela and seconded by Opposition Leader Alex Borg.<\/p>\n
Abela resigned his place as an MP. He had been elected on District 3, and a casual election is required to replace him.<\/p>\n
Farrugia had served as Speaker for a record 13 years.<\/p>\n
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In his address to the House, new Speaker Carmelo Abela pledged to safeguard the dignity of Parliament, promising to promote serious debate, responsible conduct and mutual respect among MPs as he takes on what he described as a position of great responsibility towards the Maltese people and the Constitution.<\/p>\n
Abela thanked members from both sides of the House for the confidence they placed in him, stressing that the office must remain above the daily political controversies that often dominate parliamentary proceedings.<\/p>\n
Abela also paid tribute to his predecessor, Anglu Farrugia, praising his commitment and dedication to the role throughout his years as Speaker. He acknowledged the work of all Speakers who came before him, saying each had contributed to strengthening Parliament and Malta’s democratic institutions.<\/p>\n
The new Speaker became visibly emotional when thanking his wife, Melanie, for her support, describing her encouragement as an important source of strength throughout his public life.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Abela said he intends to build on the foundations laid by his predecessors while remaining open to change where necessary. Parliament, he said, should be a place where politics meets responsibility and where freedom of expression is exercised with discipline and respect.<\/p>\n
“Words should be free, but they should also be disciplined,” he said, underlining the importance of maintaining high standards in parliamentary debate.<\/p>\n
Abela emphasised that while political parties may have different ideas and visions, they share a common purpose: serving the people. He highlighted the constitutional roles of both government and opposition, noting that the government has the right and duty to implement its programme, while the opposition has the responsibility to scrutinise, challenge and propose alternatives.<\/p>\n
That balance, he said, is fundamental to the proper functioning of Parliament and democracy.<\/p>\n
The Speaker pledged to work towards ensuring that parliamentary proceedings are characterised by serious discussion and responsible behaviour, while fostering greater respect between members despite political differences.<\/p>\n
His remarks set a conciliatory tone at the start of the new legislature, with Abela calling on all MPs to place the national interest at the centre of their work and to strengthen public trust in the country’s highest democratic institution.<\/p>\n
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