Dress codes and respect

We have disagreed with Speaker Anglu Farrugia on several occasions and have dedicated several editorials to expressing our displeasure with some of his decisions. Recently, we criticised Farrugia for acting as the government’s gatekeeper after he disallowed parliamentary questions which, although uncomfortable for the government, were, we believe, in the national interest.

These included questions about the relationship between Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s chief of staff Keith Schembri, the infamous Pilatus Bank and the bank’s perhaps even more infamous chairman.

This week, the Speaker gave another ruling, but this time we are in full agreement with him.

Mr Speaker ruled that all Members of Parliament should dress appropriately when attending parliamentary sessions. He ruled that male MPs must wear a jacket, although a tie is optional.

Women must also dress appropriately, he said.

The ruling was delivered after criticism was levelled against Partit Demokratiku MP

Editor’s pick

Godfrey Farrugia, who showed up for one of the sittings wearing a polo shirt. In a subsequent sitting, he wore a casual shortsleeve shirt (not tucked in).

Replying to criticism, Farrugia said it was honesty and integrity that made one a gentleman, not wearing a jacket and a tie. While we agree completely with the PD MP’s argument, we still feel that members of the country’s highest institution should observe a dress code in the chamber.

You wouldn’t wear a T-shirt to a court sitting (well, not unless you were wearing a T-shirt when you are arrested), and you wouldn’t opt for super casual attire when meeting with the President at San Anton Palace. Why? Because dressing appropriately is one way of showing respect towards that particular institution. Parliament should be no different.

And to be fair, the Speaker did not impose a very strict dress code – he left the tie optional.

Some MPs would argue that they are working people, just like the rest of us, and they cannot always wear a suit jacket to their job. But how hard is it for MPs to keep a suit jacket or blazer at Parliament and put it on just before the sitting?

Farrugia also argued that he often wore a Tshirt to Parliament when he was still sitting on the government benches, including when he was the government’s whip, but no one ever told him off then. He claims that he has now been singled out because he is the member of small party.

While that might be the case, the Speaker’s ruling clearly applies to all MP’s, not just those from the PD. Every MP from now on has clear instructions to observe the dress code, irrespective of the party they hail from.

But going back to Godfrey Farrugia’s words, a suit jacket does not give an MP integrity or respect. It is useless for MPs to wear suits and ties if they then behave like a bunch of rowdy kids. In fact, when looking back at past cases, one finds that some of those MPs who hurled insults and threats against fellow MPs were wearing suits and ties.

So while dress codes are important, proper behaviour and respect towards the people sitting on the opposite side is a must.