Debono says he will not topple the government

gaffarena joseph

Dec 21st 2009, 23:44

Re G, Farrugia.
Do not talk about dictatorship ,because you know well how a dictator rule.
What I, said was only that this MP, have to listen to his leader, at no time
I. referred to a dictator.We never had dictators in our party.We are the leaders when it
comes to democracy.

P Agius

Dec 21st 2009, 08:35

@ J Grima

just stick it in your head that only Mintoff was so stupid to topple his own government becasue of stupid disagreements with the was his PARTY is managed ... others are better off

P Agius

Dec 21st 2009, 08:31

@ J Borg

Pullicino and Mifsud Bonnici are in the NP camp. I am asking what happened with the LP MPs not NP MPs ... for your info NP = Nationalist Party; LP = Labour Party

G Farrugia

Dec 20th 2009, 23:57

If Mr. Joseph Gaffarena's comments represent the feeling of all PN loyalists... i.e.loyalty to the party first with voters( understood the country) coming second... then this nation is in real trouble. Having the ruling party taking important national decisions with the good of the party first and the good of the people second perhaps explains the truth behind many of the policies and decisions we have been experiencing lately. If we are to live with this type of democracy.....give me dictatorship any day.

I am sure the PN is made of with higher morals than you, Mr. Gaffarena.

J Martinelli

Dec 19th 2009, 22:32

@ Joe Grima

You talk about scorched earth? Like what happened at the Times? Get off it will you?

I can see you follow a 38 year old Prime Minister with his 'new' ideas and by necessity clashing with your old and obsolete ideas ala 70s and 80s and still at your advanced maturity you will grin and bear! Yes I can see that. Generation gaps produce that kind of friction (in your case, in reverse) and unfortunately Franco got a bit ahead of himself and will suffer consequences for some time. Hopefully, he has enough time to show us his real self and what he can accomplish. In typical old fashioned Labour style you warn Dr. Gonzi of "the eruptions ....within your Parliamentary group". The eruptions you write about are mostly the result of earnest discussions, sometimes heated, and why not? Within the NP there were never fines for speaking one's mind, no tyrant leader and no consequences for making mistakes as long as one does not persist.

Of course, one has to admit that Mintoff, KMB, Sant and now Joseph never make mistakes, neither did their Ministers and MPs of the first three leaders!

alfred agius

Dec 19th 2009, 20:15

The writing is on the wall. Dr Debono will lose his seat at the next general election. The Pn will see to that and send a message to all future dissidents.

Such is the democracy as practised on our island. Either you toe the party line all the way and forget that you are the voice of the people or you are purged into oblivion. Parties need yesmen but the electorate needs representatives that act in all circumstances in its best interest
. Who can forget il-Gross and the price he had to pay for being a man of priciple and good faith. His family was made to pay the price and suffered poverty and hunger that was alleviated by the generosity ofneighbours and friends. But we are in the third millenium, or, are we ?

e.cortis

Dec 19th 2009, 18:40

@ Tommy Vella
One party did propose a devaluation. Can you tell us which party actually devalued the maltese currency TWICE ?.

gaffarena joseph

Dec 19th 2009, 18:31

My friend Franco,
Deep inside ,you are going to agree with me.
You made a mess out of your political carrier.You rushed ,without thinking about your future as
an MP, with the PN..
Sure you can show your disapproval ,but not in the way you choose to show it.
I, myself criticise the govt.but I, am far different from you.I,agree with you that you have to take care of those who casted their vote in your favour, but before that you have to be loyal to your party, especially when we are encounting this international crises.

G . Mamgion

Dec 19th 2009, 18:14

Dr Franco Debono yes is going to lose votes............ but the mlp's Ones !!

kastelli f' arja Reds !

E. Vassallo

Dec 19th 2009, 16:53

Franco Debono had stated on Bondi plus that he got elected only because he was on the PN ticket. Now, shut with your idiosyncrasies and live to your own statement.

@Joe Grima

Gonzi was elected democratically and not like the 1981 perverse result when the socilaist regime clung on to power bulldozing over people's wishes and democratic rights. So, that leaves 3 years down the road. During those days, no one could dream going against il-Perit, right?

J Borg

Dec 19th 2009, 16:49

@ P Agius ,(quote) "And yet we have heard nothing on why the LP had 2 MPs missing." (end quote)

'Mr Pullicino is in Brussels for a meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers while Dr Mifsud Bonnici is in Paris for a conference on immigration.' - quoted from 'Government fails to muster majority - Speaker casts his vote', www.timesofmalta.com, 14/12/09 21:53CET

m.vassallo

Dec 19th 2009, 16:32

Lot of fuss for nothing Dr Franco.Gonzi managed to shut you up.Stop using your constituents as if you are doing something .Come out with the TRUTH please!!!.

jmifsud

Dec 19th 2009, 16:27

@ P Agius

good morning

Ludwig Flask

Dec 19th 2009, 16:13

"Debono says he will not topple the government" - he won't, but unless Hon. Gonzi finds solutions to all his problems within PN, the PN will topple by itself in next GE or earlier!

J Borg

Dec 19th 2009, 16:11

I TOTALLY AGREE with M. Fenech...

Franco, ma tiftakarx iz-zmien kollu li, biex iggib is-siggu waqt house visits, flok tikritika lil Partit Laburista, kont tikritika lil persuni ohra bil-pulit? Hafna minna zbaljajna, pero numru sew minna irrealizzajna u tghallimna mil-passat....

P Agius

Dec 19th 2009, 16:07

And yet we have heard nothing on why the LP had 2 MPs missing. With or without Debono, the LP should have had more members because 2 NP MPs were abroad!!! Where were these 2 LP members? Muscat said, months ago, that he's not accepting pairing, so what were his followers doing? Or these are not his followers? I think this problem is much bigger than Franco Debono walking out!!! Knowing you have the majority and let it slip by carelessness is worse than someone chickening out!!!

J. Mifsud

Dec 19th 2009, 15:09

As I wrote a couple of days ago, I sincerely believe that the political future of Dr Franco Debono is endangered. The Party will for now, until the next General Elections, tap him nicely on the shoulders, but come the next General Elections, the backstabbing will hush-hushly foment.

Dr Debono's actions this week will never be forgotten, although some will be ready to forgive him.

The less said by the honourable gentleman the better. When I analyse his behaviour, his comportment in Parliament this week, I personally find it hard believing his comments/excuses. I find his comments hurt my intelligence.

I think he should have never joined a political party.

Anthony Mizzi

Dec 19th 2009, 14:49

Franco could have been that little more frank and frankly, credibility is getting as scarce as the truth within Gonzipn.

Franco and Gonzipn dserve each other with all the economies in the truth of declarations beng issued by both Franco Debono when he makes an appearance and by Gonzipn his Master's Voice.

Joe Grima

Dec 19th 2009, 14:29

To Dr Gonzi: The best that the next three years can offfer you will be to concentrate on firefighting the eruptions that will follow Dr Debono within your Parliamentary group. The time you will be able to devote to running the country will be further curtailed and your attention will be more and more divided. This will beget more arrogance from your back-to-the-wall adminsitration and and more uniltateral decisions that will further exasperate civil society and the people at large. In spite of the many unexpected disappointments you have seminated over the past few years, I stil believe that you are an honourable man who will finally do what is right by the country. I don't belong to the school of thought that, in order to hold on to power, you will allow the country to contiunue to spiral downwards. Scorched earth is, in my opinion, not part of your make up. Take one bold step and call an election now. Let the people decide their own fate for themselves. They may elect you again for 5 more years or they may tell you that they want change. Whatever the outcome, your conscience will be at peace with honour. .

laurence schembri

Dec 19th 2009, 14:21

I will say it again, for my first input was deleted, (not knowing why is no problem) let you and I swap places, I will topple this government and clean the mess that this administration is in.

Erin Ciantar

Dec 19th 2009, 13:58

How sad. I thought finally someone could stand up to Gonzi and this administration but I was wrong. Dr. Debono had the opportunity to follow this through and become a hero of the citizens but he has been silenced too. Why is it such a big deal for a back bencher to revolt in Malta? It happens all the time abroad. I'm tired of this mentality where one side of parliament always votes yes and the other side no. It's time to grow up and let our MPs vote according to their conscience.

C.camilleri

Dec 19th 2009, 13:55

Dr.Debono, you can make a thousand apologies and give a thousand assurance that you will not topple the government, because the writing is already on the wall that you together with other backbenches can kiss your political careers goodbye.

That's the way it is with Ponn Nies party.

john fenech

Dec 19th 2009, 13:21

Date line Dr. Debono saga:

Dec. 14 Dr. Debono went missing for two hours
Dec. 14 Salvation after two hours the lost son is back to the fold
Dec .15 PN whip whiplash all speculation - absolutely no crisis- our man just went for a walk in the park, picking roses to his future rival, albeit the very friendly and esteemed college.
Dec .16 the PN meets the lost son at his home- too cold to go out- all is fine and dandy. Just a glitch, difference in the perception of how to be seen doing things!
Dec.18 Our Dr. Debono official agrees with the PN version- there was smoke but the fire was put out, maybe!
Dec.18 The ministry of justice confirms- no cell phone tracers or secret hanky panky activity about the timely return of Dr. Debono to parliament. How could one trace a phone if it was turned off, or was it?

In the meantime, the public in, the street, glasshouses and across the continents continue to wonder when the chicks are coming home to roost! Obviously, the last two roosters are unlikely to ever return to Pieta! Unlike the old eagle that landed at Hamrun!

Derek Mifsud Speranza

Dec 19th 2009, 12:38

Without going into the merits of whatever Dr.Debono intentions were. I admire the person for having the guts and courage to do what he did.

This is why we are a democratic country for any one to say and do whatever he feels, providing within the parameters of the law.

E Gatt

Dec 19th 2009, 12:30

To summarize the events of the last few days, these are the two leaders’ statements:

'Strongest confirmation yet of government instability' – Dr Joseph Muscat.
‘There is no political crisis’ – Dr Lawrence Gonzi

This democratically elected government, with Dr Debono’s support, is determined to carry out its mandate for at least the next 3 years+. Stability and the experience to tackle issues without going into crises mode is the hallmark of a PN government.

If the Socialists are disappointed that the government is still standing then they either have themselves to blame or they can direct their disappointment at the fiction writers and conspiracy theorists.

J Martinelli

Dec 19th 2009, 12:28

@ J Oatmon et al

In life, the real life that is, if you don't lead, by necessity you are led, like it or not. It is a basic principle that Dr. Debono no doubt is aware of. There is only one queen bee in a hive and any other bee trying to do harm her is immediately done away with. That's the animal kingdom.

In human terms, there will always be divergent views between the boss and his subordinate(s) however the boss rules and if a subordinate feels strongly enough about his own ideas he has two simple choices, either comply with the boss' directives or proceed to the closest door. The first option is one of reconciliation and the second is called stubbornness and possibly stupidity. Dr. Debono seems to be going for the first option, which given his repute in matters legal and so forth, makes the most sense.

He has declared on more than one occasion that he has no problem with the PM, he had no intention of toppling the government (wrong opportunity, anyway), and has no problem with Louis Galea regaining his seat.

Seems that more LP balloons are popping!

Stephen Farrugia Sliema

Dec 19th 2009, 12:10

It is to late for Dr Franco Debono to back down.

I had already said, this is only round one. 2010 will see many other rounds that will end this story.

e.cortis

Dec 19th 2009, 11:50

There was, and never again will there be a DOM.. You can rest assured . However, in my humble opinion , Dr.Debono can say goodbye to his political career. When one looks back, others before him who did far less than his move, were eliminated in later elections. A real pity.....

Maria Agius

Dec 19th 2009, 11:39

@All

tiehduhiex daqshekk forgranted li b'dan l-ghagir Dr.Debono qed jirriskja is-siggu tieghu. jien mis-South u li nista nghid li Dr.Debono qed jirrispekja id-dwejjaq li ghandi ghat-telqa li tezisti f'din in-naha ta' Malta.

Sa fejn naf jien, jien nivvutalek biex tirraprezentani, mhux biex taghmel dak li qed jghidlek minn jigbed il-hajta.

Il-kuncett ta' demokrazzija qed jispicca gewwa Malta, qed jigi issemplifikat ghal-kuncett partiggjan. Qisna qedin bil-pika tal-futbol, Italja-Ingilterra, jew tkun ma tim jew ma iehor. Mentri il-kuncett ta' demokrazzija jibbazza fuq il-pedament li kulhadd ghandu jkollu sehem mid-decizjonijiet li ha jolqtu il-poplu.

Ma nafx min hawn hux se jismani Dr.Debono, imma li nista nghidlu hu li kif qed jaghmel qed jirbah il-voti ta' dawk in-nazzjonalisti tas-South li huma dizilluzi bil-politikanti 'yesman' li ghandna fil-partit u li fl-ahhar elezzjoni baqghu d-dar.

Maria

g.c.Forte

Dec 19th 2009, 11:27

Dr. Franco, I am a labourite, and always had respect to young politicians like you and others from both parties,even from the P.N. But what you have done and doing I must say that I am losing my confidence. Playing with peoples` mind is a very serious way, and I am sure that you still going to suffer for your behaviour, from your personal supporters. In life you either stand up to be a man, or else.......................Please have some respect to our intelligence.

Manuel Micallef

Dec 19th 2009, 11:12

It seems to me that Dr Debono's acts were a "warning shot".... He did so with bravery, because these things do not normally happen within PN. PN is a very conservative party who usually hides things like this from the public.

Now many questions surface:-
1. WIll this be a lonely "warning shot"?
2. Are there others who support Dr Debono, or is he acting alone? It is known that there are many other MPs who feel the same... will Dr Debono's actions inspire more rebellious acts?
3. How can PN continue to hide these things? Would it not be better for PN, as a party to acknowledge that there are differences of opinions? It seems to me that continuing on the path of hiding, in such instances is counterproductive and damaging to the same party.
4. The ball is firmly within Gonzi's court... Will he spend 3 years "fire fighting" within his party or put his party's, his country's and his own interest first and call a General election? All this depends on how big the divisions within the party are.... but to me it seems that they are deep enough...

Happy Xmas to all

michael Degiorgio

Dec 19th 2009, 11:10

so dr debono says he was sick how come he was in the parliament buildings at 6 45 according to david agius who met him on his why out why did not debono tell his wip that he was going home something here does not add up may be two and two make 5

Joe Grima

Dec 19th 2009, 11:10

To Dr Debono. The one characteristic that makes politicians stand out from the rest is their ability to make their statement in whichever manner they choose and then hold on to their words or deeds whatever the consequences. You are still a freshman in politics so it will help you to take advice from people who have been through it. 1) Clearly, you have made your statement. Now don't dribble. Stop inputting into the the excuse game. Your constiutuents and the rest of the country are not idiots. 2) Your other disgruntled colleagues, who were good enough to fly their flags on TV, are not with you now. Learn the next stage of the poltical game. When you laugh, everyone laughs with you. When you are left to hang in there on your own, you cry alone and the rest may even be laughing at you. 3) Now that you have had the guts to challenge your own leader, remember that even if he offers you the earth to keep you quiet, from now on, your shoulder is your best friend. Look over it all the time. Your political future, if any, may depend on just that.

Tommy Vella

Dec 19th 2009, 10:44

Which more competent party, the one who advised devaluation?

Joe Vella

Dec 19th 2009, 10:43

@ J. Borg

Where did Franco Debono says that he was going to make a statement?

Please do not confuse the word speech with statement. They have different meaning and specially in this context.

Poor Gloom and Doom are making a mountain out of moth hole. Just wonder, there couldn't be much to cheer about these these days within the PL. Perhaps they are already sensing that the victory that the PL desperately want already seems sliiping away faster then they would have thaught only a short time ago.

A Farrugia

Dec 19th 2009, 10:43

You are all missing the point. Reference should be made to a speech which Dr. Franco Debono had prepared to deliver in Parliament but he backed off at the very last minute. It would be interesting to know the content of that speech.

"The government can only be toppled by a vote of no-confidence or a financial vote".We can’t say we have not been warned. Franco Debono is politically already a dead man walking. The party and the country has no time for a novice.

Mario Bonnici

Dec 19th 2009, 10:41

@Tony Fomosa
The bubble has been burst in the PM's and David Agius' faces. Because they were the ones trying to give us the impression that buisness was as usual and that Franco Debono arrived late in parliament.
Now Franco Debono is admitting that his absence wasn't a coincidence.

M. Fenech

Dec 19th 2009, 10:38

I thought Dr. Debono will go into more detail to close this saga once and for all. He did NOT and he kept "explaining" to us, Maltese imbeciles, that he is fine and there is nothing to worry about.
Dr. Debono, enjoy your parliament seat. Come next General Election, your seat will not be guaranteed. You have created too much mess and stress on the PN side to keep you onboard. NOT that it is non-acceptable to moan and groan, but there are ways and means how to get your message across with your behaviour. It is a pity, coz people saw in you a new light, but it turned to be a farce from day one, by insulting Dr. Galea on each and every occasion you had, to show how hard you earned your seat on that district.
Maybe you need to hire a private PR consultant to get your image back in shape! Worth the investment!

vincent a galea

Dec 19th 2009, 10:29

There is a gentleman who signs VINCENT GALEA and who like me comments on these pages, and who also commented below. I feel that it is only fair that I disassociate myself from this comment (friends have already phoned me asking questions), because of the similaritry in our names.
Dr Debono is a very good friend of mine and all I would like to say to him is that I wish him well and that he has a great career in politics.
I end by stating that my comments are always signed "vincent a galea" in small caps!

D.Bartolo

Dec 19th 2009, 10:29

Good morning every one. Someone had said that the PN Govt is doing very well!!. I think this person is living in Timbaktu!!. He is out of touch and living in santa land.

Roderick Bajada

Dec 19th 2009, 10:01

So it's confirmed!

That it was only a show, as nobody really has the guts to stand up to Gonzi were it counts.

And with Dalli eliminated... and not knowing the full Debono story...

Who on the government side will actually stand up for us citizens now?????

I lost all hope in this administration.

J.Borg

Dec 19th 2009, 09:57

@ Tony Formosa
if you take this as a burst bubble, then no wonder why the PN is in such a precarious position.
If you think that the maltese people are to take this as an excuse for what happened in parlament, then the PN are thinking that the maltese people are imbeciles.
First we have Dr.Debono saying that he was going to read a statement in parlament (which he didn't). Then we had David Agius saying on TX that Dr.Debono may be sick and that's why the prime minister visited him.
Now we have Dr.Debono saying that he is is sick and that's why he didn't go himself to the prime minister.
It's no use that the PN is suing all these cover ups.....Dr.Debono should come out strait and tell the maltese people that he wanted to convey a message to the prime minister if he wants the maltese people to believe him.........otherwise as Dr.Anna Mallia said - he can say good bye to his parlamentary seat come next election.

Carmel Cilia

Dec 19th 2009, 09:34

I would like to point out to Mr. Tony Formosa that usualy one dreams in the dark and therefore once one puts on the light his dream is over. I hope he would not be one of those many who would need clinical help the moment they receive next years electricity bills. Happy christmas and the best of dreams mr. Formosa.

N.Calleja

Dec 19th 2009, 09:29

Although this interview somehow clears the muddy waters surrounding Dr.Debono's bravado, some of his comments are still very misty and leaves one to think that all he did was purposely done to create tension and give rise to speculation. In my opinion he should continue to speak out his mind, otherwise he has committed a political suicide.

T. Puli

Dec 19th 2009, 09:28

Even Mintoff had declared this statement before doing its opposite. I hope this won't be the case here as Malta needs certainty and not parliamentary farces.

C.ZARB

Dec 19th 2009, 08:53

I don't know why all the fuss. If the PN government is doing so well then Im sure that it would have been re-elected immediately. So why fear an early election?

Vincent Galea

Dec 19th 2009, 08:52

Galea Vincent a commentator below has nothing to do with me.(Paola)

John Briffa

Dec 19th 2009, 08:46

So for all the Nationalists.....do you believe that there are no issues in your party.......be honest :)

Tony Mangion

Dec 19th 2009, 08:38

Of course no one thought that Dr Franco's intentions were to topple his Government when he moved away from Parliament before voting time, but we know quite well that he is very much unhappy by the way that the power station extension is being handled by his Government. Although he said nothng on the dreadful project of the power station, does it mean that he will now close his eyes and leave his constituents to suffer?.

J Oatmon

Dec 19th 2009, 08:10

Obviously we cannot tell what someone is thinking in the PN, but it seems reasonable to me, that there are PN party members who are unhappy with Dr Gonzi's leadership.
There has been a definite lack of direction or action by the government in many areas where scandal has prevailed, such as MEPA, ADT, VAT, the Judiciary and courts and so on. This failure by the PN to 'grasp the nettle' and tackle these obvious problems, has greatly disappointed the general public, and this includes PN supporters.
The leadership is simply is not doing what it was elected to do - lead.

TONY FORMOSA

Dec 19th 2009, 07:53

* SO ANOTHER BUBBLE HAS BEEN BURST MUCH TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT OF

THOSE DREAMERS. ADMITTEDLY DREAMING IS NOT A SIN....SO LET ALL THOSE WHO

WERE THINKING THE WORSE CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES WITH OTHER DREAMS.

BESIDES THIS IS THE SEASON OF GOODWILL!

TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA

Galea Vincent

Dec 19th 2009, 07:53

Please Dr. Debono don't insult our intelligence and be proud of your actions and your credibility.

N.Lawrence

Dec 19th 2009, 07:44

Such a pity. Somebody needs to topple this government.