Gonzi meets Debono
PN shaken, angered
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.
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Lawrence Gauci
Dec 18th 2009, 10:19
For those who are asking who Dr. Debono thinks he is... well Dr. Debono is a beacon of light in the PN i'm sure that more MP's will follow his example. Dr. Debono's loyalty should first and foremost be to Malta and then the party so his actions are already justifiable. Dr. Debono gave a well deserved cold shower to the government and hats off to him. The PM should have foreseen such actions as other backbenchers have been uneasy as of day 1 and he completely ignored them ever since. I believe that Dr. Debono has the majority of the public's support and admiration for standing up to the government and the timing was perfect. Thanks Dr. Debono for your support and also for being a true representative of the general public
Joe Portelli
Jan 14th, 13:20
You fight fire with water not fire! Dr Debono identified a fire but was too eager to demostrate his observation and forgot to use water and instead used fire to fight fire.
Christian Sciberras
Dec 18th 2009, 09:17
Not commenting on Franco's actions, I'm sure that all of you would have made excellent politicians.....NOT!
B Sant
Dec 17th 2009, 21:19
"Wot does he think he is?" Well....he thinks he is greater than the party and rightly so. Any party cannot be considered as the almighty and oracle.
As much as Mr Debono did not publicly commit himself wot went wrong , it is irritating seeind Dr Gonzi stating that he has total control of the party and nothing was wrong. If Dr Gonzi think we are stupid then wot Mr Debono is doing is perfectly right. After all im sure more than half of the population woulld want see Dr Gonzi out of government.
Mr Debono .......just do it.... u got the backing of more than half the population.
MBorg
Dec 17th 2009, 18:01
@ Cremona A Well said. Who does he think he is.? Still very new at the game and he sure is showing it.
Henry S Pace
Dec 17th 2009, 17:48
I consider Dr Debono is still an infant in politics. I would suggest that he attends stage 1 of a political school and finds some seasoned politician to teach him how he behaves in the political arena. Being absent from parliament for reasons only known to him are not justified. Mintoff gave an elaborate explanation when he decided that he would vote against his own government while the people are still in the dark why he left the House.
J.Tonna
Dec 17th 2009, 17:34
Doesn't he know that being a member of parliament is a temporary job?
Cremona A
Dec 17th 2009, 17:16
Why is the PM letting himself be humiliated in this way?And then by whom?An upstart politician from Ghaxaq. Let's get the facts right for correctness sake. PM Gonzi won the last election (yes by a whisker) singlehandedly. He managed to obtain another term for the ailing PN practically on his own and without the Gonzi factor all these 'disgruntled' MPs would now be relegated to the political wilderness of parliamentary opposition. Franco Debono included. Time to pluck up some strength and show again some real leadership dear PM. MPs who are so rash as to commit these types of political hara-kiris are not visited in Gov cars at their private residences in Ghaxaq but called to Castille by the PM and to PN HQ by the PN executive to explain internally before requesting same to clarify issues publicly with the media. And please let's see this "backbench revolt" as it really is. There is no real higher moral reason for such outbursts. Nor is there any quest or attempt at furthering the common good. They simply want to sit in the front row. A front row which, having said that however, the current occupiers deem theirs by Divine right.
c. camilleri
Dec 17th 2009, 16:34
I am reading Eddie' s book "Inservi" Recent events have shown that only a limited number of our MPs deserve that word. The rest are all after power, honour and greed. I hope that come the next election the nationalists voters will know who to trust.
Stephen Farrugia Sliema
Dec 17th 2009, 15:50
A lot of Nationalists are not giving their support to the party anymore. The issues are immigration and no respect.
Henry S Pace
Dec 17th 2009, 14:48
Unless Dr Franco Debono explains publicly the reason why he left the house he is not trustworthy.
He should give his resignation to the party and as a deputy.
Such people from any political party are not to be trusted.
Olina Tretyak
Dec 17th 2009, 14:38
Keep it up, Franco!
Not many people in politics allow themselves to have more important issues than political events. Keep it up, whatever it is. Do not live for politics, be politician to have all of us to live better.
Joseph Cauchi
Dec 17th 2009, 11:20
I believe that these actions by Franco Debono are nothing more than a clear sign of immaturity.
Admittedly, it is the first few months of this new experience as an MP for Franco Debono, but if he has an axe to grind or some particular personal ambitions, there are other ways and means that can be used.
Unfortunately, these actions are going to back-fire on Franco and this may have an adverse effect on his new political career.
These types of actions hurt mostly his constituents who have elected him to represent them and of which he had solemnly swear to uphold!
JC.
Christian Sciberras
Dec 17th 2009, 11:16
Fidili ghal politika, letteralment.
Galea. L
Dec 17th 2009, 10:36
The incident also rallied support for Dr Debone from his constituents and others from the South which has been turned into a rubbish dump by the PN Governments and the citizens in the South made to suffer all sorts of inconveniences and problems.
See the difference in treatment between embellishing PN strongholds and dumping in ther South of all problematic projects such as the Sant Antnin Waste Recycling Plant in Marsascala, the Power Station in Delimara etc....