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.