Why is the Speaker travelling for meetings of this nature? It’s not his place or purpose.

The Speaker of the House is in Turkey, having “bilateral meetings” with, among others, that country’s notorious head of state.

Bilateral meetings? The Speaker, in his Constitutional role, represents neither the state nor the government. He represents parliament. He can’t hold a “bilateral meeting” with a head of state or head of government.

So what exactly is he doing there?

Anglu Farrugia spends a lot of time travelling the world on the parliament ticket, making hay while the sun shines. And to validate his totally unjustifiable trips, he tries to hook one or two Opposition MPs on board with him, and often succeeds, as in this case.

And this means that the Opposition is unable to rip into him for abuse of public funds and for inappropriate travel choices.

Note to the Opposition: for God’s sake, stop travelling with the Speaker. You’re no longer in your teens and 20s, gagging for a free trip. The Speaker, until four years ago, was the deputy leader of the corrupt, malign and vindictive Labour Party.

He knew that his party was in bed with all sorts – including the power station people and major contractors – but he only complained about it, briefly, when Muscat axed him. And he never spoke about it again when Muscat bribed him with the Speaker’s chair and bribed him again by making his daughter a magistrate.

Stop colluding with these crooked individuals.