Debono says he will not topple the government

Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono has broken his three-day silence, saying he would never do anything to topple the government.

Dr Debono admitted to The Times that his absence from Parliament during votes on Monday -- which resulted in a tie and the Speaker's vote -- had embarrassed the government but he insisted these were not votes that could have toppled it.

The government can only be toppled by a vote of no-confidence or a financial vote.

Asked whether, because of that incident, he had been pressured by the PN to resign, Dr Debono replied in the negative.

Replying to another question on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's visit to his house on Wednesday evening, Dr Debono said he had a cold and could not visit Dr Gonzi himself. He gave no further details.

When asked why he was absent from the House, Dr Debono answered cryptically that he could have taken the action "on a point of principle", but he would not elaborate.

Dr Debono explained that he had left Parliament two hours before the vote was taken. He said he had prepared a speech to deliver in Parliament but did not read it out.

His actions, he insisted, were not some "ego trip", since a negative vote in Parliament would have meant his losing the chairmanship of the parliamentary committee on the codification of laws, which was the other motion under discussion that evening.

Dr Debono said he was not disgruntled but simply passing on the message of his constituents. However he would never do anything to topple the government.

The Nationalist MP also denied that his action had anything to do with the possible return of Louis Galea - a candidate on his district - to the Cabinet once John Dalli leaves.

"Three weeks ago, when it was announced that John Dalli was to be proposed as Malta's EU Commissioner, I went to Dr Galea's private chambers in Parliament and congratulated him in the eventuality of returning as an MP if he decided to contest the casual election. It is an absolute invention that this has anything to do with Dr Galea. I respect him and wish him well," he said.