Christian Peregin
There is no political crisis - PM
PN praises Franco Debono
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday denied he is facing a political crisis, saying he went to visit backbencher Franco Debono for "personal reasons" unrelated to the fact that the young backbencher had put the government's parliamentary majority in jeopardy.
He said Dr Debono did not give him an explanation for his absence during the voting on two amendments to a government motion on Monday, which ended 32 votes in favour and 32 against.
The issue, he said, was Dr Debono's "personal situation" to explain.
"I needed to see his family, I needed to see him. I went to see two other people yesterday. I wanted to see him for personal reasons," Dr Gonzi said when asked why he went to Dr Debono's home with his wife Kate on Wednesday evening.
Dr Gonzi denied this was a cry for attention on Dr Debono's part and stressed that the MP eventually did turn up in Parliament to vote on two motions that were then passed with a government majority.
"Franco vociferously voted yes. The vote is there, it is declared. It cannot be clearer than it is,"
he said, adding that former Opposition Leader Alfred Sant had asked for the vote to be called.
Dr Gonzi said the government had set up a very important committee for Dr Debono to chair and his talents and capabilities would be given the chance to deliver results.
Asked whether Dr Debono was satisfied with this position he said: "Of course he is content."
On Monday, Dr Debono went missing when two votes were taken on amendments to a motion to set up a select committee. One amendment was proposed by the opposition, calling for the Speaker to chair the committee instead of a Nationalist MP.
Although he was last seen in Parliament at 7 p.m., Dr Debono left the House when the votes were taken. His absence created a tie in both votes.
Eventually the amendments fell through with the Speaker's casting vote and it was only when Dr Debono returned and voted that the original motion, and a second one creating another select committee which he is to chair, were approved.
Rumours were rife within the party after Monday, although lips were sealed when party officials were asked for an official comment.
However, the explanation being suggested within some circles is that Dr Debono was angry at a rumour that Speaker Louis Galea, who contests the same hotly fought district, might be reappointed to Cabinet to fill the seat of soon-to-be European Commissioner John Dalli.
However, in the first official statement about the affair since Monday, PN secretary general Paul Borg Olivier indirectly denied that Dr Debono was angered at the prospect of competition in his district. "More than a year ago, upon his personal initiative, he suggested that the party should put in all its efforts to consolidate the team on the fifth district at all levels of the party structures, and therefore any comments to the contrary are untrue."
He went on to praise the MP: "Franco Debono is a Member of Parliament who has brought new ideas to the party particularly in the field of justice and the environment.
"His legal expertise and experience as a lawyer have led him from the grass-roots to the benches of Parliament and he has always served his constituents in their best interest both before and after being elected as Member of Parliament throughout the past 12 years of political activity with the Nationalist Party.
"He is particularly and positively vociferous on environmental issues and on the need of a better quality of life through improved amenities in his community with a deep sense of justice towards his electors.
"The party is more than confident that in his recent election by his colleague Nationalist Members of Parliament to chair the Parliamentary Committee on the Codification of the Laws of Malta, Dr Debono will best serve the post in the national interest," said Dr Borg Olivier.
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m farrugia
Dec 19th 2009, 05:13
No ,No, Dr Gonzi was only invited for a drink since Christmas is around the corner.
Galea. L
Dec 18th 2009, 23:29
J Martinelli
Is there a distinction? To those who live in Malta and not confortably in far-away Canada and who know what is happening and feeling the pinch they are just one and the same Martinelli. As for money raised, the less said the better.
As for Dr Debono he has the respect of his constituents for standing up for them even though he will have to appear as if nothing had happened.
Since you said that there are so many crisis in the PL that you would fill a page and half, how about listing them even in several postings Martinelli?
As they say, you are seeing a straw in other peoples eyes but not seeing the beam in your own eyes.
c. camilleri Agree with you camilleri. The nats would be nuts not to remember who stood up for them against the total arrogance exhibited by Gonzi.
J Martinelli
Dec 18th 2009, 19:29
@ VICTOR BORG et al
Vic, first of all make a distinction between the PN and the government. Secondly the public and the shopkeepers can only be upset with the government but not necessarily with the Party which was successful in raising 410,000 euros in the last telethon - twice as much as the LP raised two weeks ago and has consistently raised much more than the LP over the last two decades or more.
Only Dr. Debono, so far, knows what his problem is and if it is physical, I wish him well as much as I wish the President a speedy recovery. If, on the other hand, the problem was political or personal, then there is no reason to wish him well because the problem can only be resolved between him and the party.
You must all be thick skinned to keep harping about the NP being in crisis when the LP goes from one crisis to the next and for me to list them all will take a page and a half but - leadership crisis - Secretary General crisis - Party President called 'untruthful' by the former GS - Deputy leaders shunned and tucked away....
M. Azzopardi
Dec 18th 2009, 17:49
The only government crisis I remember is when someone was calling someone traitor!
c. camilleri
Dec 18th 2009, 16:19
Whatever everyone says people like Franco Debono cannot be trusted. The nats voters of the fifth district should take note of all that is happening.
N.Calleja
Dec 18th 2009, 15:56
I have read too what was printed on The Malta Independent today but honestly I'm still not convinced. If what is being reported is the honest truth, and Franco Debono has no axes to grind, why was he absent for such a crucial period and then only appearing at a late hour? Why is it that others are speaking on his behalf? Why hasn't he got the guts to issue a solemn staement explaining his strange behaviour? If he wanted to give a warning so that the PN should listen to its members' compliants, now he should speak out clearly so that all those who are not convinced of his actions, will get the true answer!! If he doesn't the mystery would escalate and create more doubts!
VICTOR BORG
Dec 18th 2009, 15:21
@J Martinelli
jou must be blind to think that the pn are not in trouble ask the public and all the shop owners
if they are happy what is your party going to do may be hand out goodies in the last year and hand out permits dont worry dr. franco debono is not going to starve even though you did not
wish him well
E Gatt
Dec 18th 2009, 14:56
@Charles J. Buttigieg
I am not Edgar. By ‘decade’ I meant a period starting with year ‘0’ (2000 in this case) and ending with ‘9’ (2009). This decade is also known as 'The Noughties'.
Ronald Zammit
Dec 18th 2009, 14:52
Whom do you think you are fooling Mr. P.M.? Do you really beleive that we Maltese are so naive and stupid to digest your pritentions that all is ok with your Gonzi PN government and that business is as usual ? Tell this to the marines! The writting is clearly written on the wall and you know very well what the majority of the people really beleive. Shame for treating us this way ! Finally as the saying goes.... What goes round comes around .... and what happend to Sant's government in 1998 might very well happen to your Gonzi PN tal par idejn sodi !!!!!
Charles Zammit
Dec 18th 2009, 14:12
The Maltese are getting weary by the hour of this political farce. Lying is by no means acceptable under any circumstance. We have had enough of this and such tactics no longer work. We want the truth and nothing but the truth. Going by Dr. Gonzi's assertions, Dr. Borg did not say the truth and a lot of other people lied too. Only Dr. Gonzi is correct!!!!!
Upright and responsible politicians would relinquish their lucartive post for honour. This path to Keeping one's honour high is not quite popular on these island. What matters most is that Dr. Gonzi and the rest of the PN parliamentary entourage hold on to their seats. Shame!!
J Martinelli
Dec 18th 2009, 14:11
@ Albert Gauci Cunningham et al
Good governments sail through crises, not so good governments fold within two years.
Good governments do not predict the next victory - they just continue to work at it.
Good government works for both 'single cell brains' and intellectuals alike - not so good parties feed their supporters cabbages.
Good governments face problems and solve them - bad Opposition parties sow doom & gloom.
Good governments survive on truth - bad Opposition spins, lies and throws mud.
Remember Albert, the MLP was some 13,000 votes ahead a day or two ahead of last election at a time when Dr. Sant was hell bent to crucify JPO. The lead evaporated in 24 hours and JPO was elected from two districts - talk about seeing through the MLP's smoke. 24 hours is a long time in politics - 3 years is much, much longer.
However one slices it, Dr. Debono shot his toes and it will take a lot of surgery in order to repair the damage. It is now up to him to have the courage to make amends.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Dec 18th 2009, 13:56
@ E Gatt
“Incidentally, after the House rose for the Christmas recess, PN has become the first party in Maltese political history, to serve in government for a whole decade”
What were you thinking Edgar?- A decade is a period of ten years. Mur strieh habib.
victor borg
Dec 18th 2009, 13:52
Why not pull the other one dr.Gonzi why are you taking us for fools every body knows
that dr.Franco Debono is fighting for all the people that elected him the, south cannot
take any more just wait for the extension of the power station to come in front of
the parliament dr.Gonzi you might as well stay at his place AND HE IS NOT THE ONLY
ONE
John Schembri
Dec 18th 2009, 12:53
Three years are over in the blink of an eye, my friends, two have almost gone by already. And there will be hell to pay next time. We won't forget, or give the benefit of the doubt this time. A president was impeached for lying to his people. This from a staunch former Nationalist. The writing is on the wall.
Joe Duncan
Dec 18th 2009, 12:50
Is this some sort of Government upstairs government downstairs comedy? SHAME!
J Farrugia
Dec 18th 2009, 12:28
@ ALbert Gauci Cunningam : intelligent enough to see through political spin? My foot.
Christian Sciberras
Dec 18th 2009, 12:24
@Franco Xuereb - Humour won't get you anywhere.
Sure this is Malta, our best films/products are best known for their humour...."kummidja" if you get my drift...
Franco Xuereb
Dec 18th 2009, 11:58
@ C.vella I liked the way you presented your comment, good sence of humour........keep it up.
@ I. Abela. I also must admit that your comment was good, people like GonziPN must think that most of the citizens of this country do not have brains to put 1 and 1 together.
Galea. L
Dec 18th 2009, 11:44
U viva San Filep la x-xitan irid hekk.
Mhux hekk Gonzi?
m.vassallo
Dec 18th 2009, 11:39
This is the joke of the year!!.Thanks Dr Gonzi you made my day.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Dec 18th 2009, 11:21
This is by far the biggest proof, if any were needed anymore, that the PN takes us (and by us I mean those people who it deems intelligent enough to see through political spin) for cabbages and single brain celled aliens. But I know for a fact as I wrote just at the start of this crisis (yes it is a crisis) that the PN being the politically shrewder of the 2 parties will come up with any story to cover up this whole mess even if they have to accuse Franco Debono of very temporary insanity they'd do it, mark my words!! Whatever the story they're preparing when they do come up with it they'll spin snd spin to their hearts content and they'll use every station and paper they can to get through the heads of the great unwashed that their story is the only reality and in a matter of days all this episode will be buried under a pile of spin and lies!! If you think that this is just conspiracy then you weren't paying enough attention to how the Nationalists do politics!!!!
E Gatt
Dec 18th 2009, 11:17
I agree. A few bumps along the road but not a crises.
PN has been democratically elected to serve for another 3 years+. The government, including Dr Debono, has a long list of reforms/work to do till then – let’s get on with it!
Incidentally, after the House rose for the Christmas recess, PN has become the first party in Maltese political history, to serve in government for a whole decade.
Sergio Galea Vincenti
Dec 18th 2009, 11:14
Well... What to say?
It's either a case of Dr. Gonzi be 'over diplomatic' in his assessment of the situation or else the various nationalist bloggers who have so vehemently resorted to insulting remarks towards Dr. Debono are nothing but rash fools who are doing nothing but further harm their party.
Either way, it's a shambles.
c vella
Dec 18th 2009, 10:50
i told you that Dr Debono dose the best christmas cake in the 5th district...,Mr & Mrs Gonzi went for a taste thats all.
p.s.......u anka pudini jekk tridu....lol
I Abela
Dec 18th 2009, 10:46
"saying he went to visit backbencher Franco Debono for "personal reasons" unrelated to the fact that the young backbencher had put the government's parliamentary majority in jeopardy." - When I actually manage to stop laughing i'll continue my comment.............. Is this man really governing Malta? No wonder this country is in such a mess.
Ramon Casha
Dec 18th 2009, 10:41
Next he'll be denying that our roads need repairs.
D. Xerri
Dec 18th 2009, 10:35
Flimkien Kollox Possibbli minbarra li tipprova tbellalna r-ross bil-labra Dear Dr Gonzi!
Christian Sciberras
Dec 18th 2009, 10:24
"There is no political crisis"
No of course not!
Because we've been having the best education out there.
We have the most sophisticated and punctual public transport.
Digital services excel in security, practically flawless.
Drainage systems could drain a lake's worth in seconds without overflowing.
Roads are hole-less. Malta excels in bleeding-edge research; to the point of educating people in particle physics. Need say more?
If the reader didn't get it, that's sarcasm. Keep this political bull$hit away from me, please.
g.c.Forte
Dec 18th 2009, 10:08
Go tell it to the Marines..........Mr. Prime Minister.........The citizens have minds to judge, and if you respect that, you will be more appreciated.