Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, accompanied by his wife Kate, held a meeting yesterday evening with the PN's troublesome backbencher Franco Debono, whose walkout from Parliament on Monday momentarily gifted the opposition with equal voting power.

In a statement it issued last night, the PN did not disclose what went on at the meeting, which was held at the young MP's family home in Għaxaq at around 7 p.m. This morning, Dr Gonzi flies to Denmark for the climate change summit.

Earlier in the day, Nationalist Party officials had been playing down Dr Debono's absence from Parliament which resulted in the embarrassing tie, unprecedented under the Nationalist Administration of the last two decades.

For the second day running, the MP avoided several calls and messages sent by The Times seeking an explanation for his behaviour. However, several party officials were in touch with him throughout the day and the evening meeting with him was arranged. It is not clear why Mrs Gonzi was present, although she was known to have played a part in important meetings with disgruntled Nationalist voters before the last general election, which PN won on the strength of a slim majority.

The theory for Dr Debono's walkout being peddled with persistency in PN quarters is that he is angry at a rumour making the rounds that Speaker of the House Louis Galea, his main rival in his district, could find his way back into the Cabinet again after John Dalli's departure to become a European Commissioner.

On Monday, Dr Debono was seen in Parliament at around 7 p.m. but was absent later when two votes were taken on amendments proposed to a motion for the setting up of a Select Committee.

One of the amendments, put forward by the opposition, was to have the Speaker, rather than a PN parliamentarian, chair this committee. The other was proposed by the government side.

Dr Debono went missing for these votes despite efforts to find him. As a result, both votes resulted in 32 MPs in favour and 32 against.

The proposed amendments were then defeated by the Speaker's casting vote.

The backbencher did turn up again later to enable the government side to re-establish its one-seat majority, defeat the opposition's amendment and pass the original motion.

The government was not threatened by the situation, as it can only be toppled by a vote of no-confidence or a financial vote.

However, the episode shook the party, reminding it of the potential vulnerability of its single-seat margin.

The incident certainly angered many a Nationalist, who cannot understand Dr Debono's action.