Juan Ameen
Franco Debono story was Labour's spin, Gonzi insists
Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono's absence in Parliament during a vote last week was part of a spin exercise by the Labour media that blew the incident out of proportion, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday.
The Labour media had no ethics and very low journalistic standards, as could be clearly seen in its reporting of Dr Debono's absence, Dr Gonzi said during a radio interview.
On Monday, Dr Debono walked out of Parliament 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.
Dr Debono's absence led to a tie in both votes - 32 in favour and 32 against. Eventually, the amendments fell through with the Speaker's casting vote and it was only when Dr Debono returned to Parliament that the original motions were approved.
after three days of silence, Dr Debono admitted he had planned not to vote because he wanted to convey a message that MPs had to be treated with dignity.
Dr Gonzi said the MP had given his reasons for his absence and reiterated his total loyalty to the Nationalist Party. "He didn't have to explain anything as he was in Parliament and he voted," he said.
Quoting Labour MP Evarist Bartolo, who had said certain things remained the same while the Labour Party changed, Dr Gonzi said the PL's media reporting was a clear example of spin.
The PL had asked people with media experience to draw up a code of ethics for its media but it was simply ignored once completed, he said.
Turning to the Copenhagen climate change summit, Dr Gonzi said he was very disappointed with the summit's outcome.
Although there were high hopes that an agreement would be reached among the 192 countries, no legally-binding treaty was signed.
"I expected much more. The EU was ready to cut its emissions by 30 per cent but only if the other countries committed themselves to raise their emission-reduction targets," he said. But this did not happen so EU countries were still bound to reduce emissions by 20 per cent.
Dr Gonzi said steps in the right direction were still made because, not so long ago, the US was not even interested in cutting emissions.
Climate change was of vital importance to Malta for many reasons. It was closely linked to irregular immigration and rising water levels. Even if the level of the sea increased by a few inches, this would be a disaster for Malta's water table, Dr Gonzi said.
Malta had very high ambitions for emissions reductions and had been included in Annexe I within the UN framework climate change convention, putting it among the developed countries, with all other EU member states except Cyprus. "The new power station extension, together with the submarine cable link with Sicily, will reduce Malta's emissions drastically," Dr Gonzi said.
In a reaction to the Prime Minister's comments, the Labour Party said Dr Gonzi was focusing on the problems facing his party instead of concentrating on the country's woes. Among these are the high cost of water and electricity that are burdening families, businesses and industry.
Instead he is blaming the PL for these problems, the Labour Party added.
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J Martinelli
Dec 21st 2009, 21:47
@ J Mifsud
"Come off it, Dr Gonzi!!! Don't insist with hurting our intelligence". Then, how can Dr. Gonzi hurt you?!
@ Joe Grima
Over the (many) years you have been practicing spin As a matter of fact I had the impression you did it professionally. Be careful to whom you pass your crown. Speaking of AWOL (Absent without leave), you did quite a number of years in that category. Rich coming from you and pointing at Dr. Debono's few hours of being AWOL !
Hallina Guz!
@ Galea. L
Even from this distance, it hurts me to see that there are people who still think like you do!
@ J.Buhagiar
Dr. Gowzef Muscat still has not explained where he was during the Budget debate !!! Running from the heat in the kitchen?
J. Mifsud
Dec 21st 2009, 20:36
Come off it, Dr Gonzi!!! Don't insist with hurting our intelligence. Not everyone of us live in 'cuckoo land'.I bet that come next week you will be blaming the PL for the world's financial turbulence and for the price of oil. Keep harping these stupidities and you will give the PL the biggest victory ever in a general election. Cracks in the PN are there for all to see. Living in denial will only create more disgruntlement. I know, you do not have an easy job controlling backbenchers, but now is the time to use your 'strong hands'.
Joe Grima
Dec 21st 2009, 19:07
Coming form Dr Gonzi, Malta's king of spin,this is rich. The PM seemed to have joined the PN blocked ears brigade and has not heard Dr Debono's explanation as to wy he went AWOL (Away without Leave). Dr Debono made it quite clear that his was a protest and he outlined what he was protesting agianst. The only spin in this story comes from our Honourable Prime Minister
Galea. L
Dec 21st 2009, 14:51
P Agius
They were abroad and the Party Whip knew about them.
The Whip has already confirmed this and you raise the question again?
Don't you read and hear the media?
The question is why did the Speaker have to vote to save Gonzi.
J Martinelli
You have not right to demand what you call substance from Dr Muscat because you do not live here Martinelli and nothing that we do here affects you since you are living comfortably in far-away Canada. The drivel is constantly emanating from Gonzi and pn apologists who think that everyone is stupid and that they can feed anyone whatever propaganda they wish.
J.Buhagiar
Dec 21st 2009, 14:43
@ P. Agius
Please note that the two Labour MP's missing from parlament on that fateful day were both abroad on parliament business hope that this answers your question.
victor borg
Dec 21st 2009, 14:40
All you pn supporters how can you still believe that you still have the majority you must be
happy paying exessive payments for all the wasteage of enemalta and the water works
P. Cassar
Dec 21st 2009, 13:53
Dear Prime Minister,
Does it not even occur to you that such a statement means that arrongance reigns supreme
and that you are taking nationalists and labourites to be complete fools.
It also really humiliates Franco Debono who tried to send a message in a way he understood to be the best.
This is surely not becoming of a PRIME MINISTER.
J Martinelli
Dec 21st 2009, 13:51
@ Charles Zammit et al
The LP hasn't much to do just warming the Opposition benches and as the saying goes, "idle minds are the devil's workshop'. How true!
We want SUBSTANCE from Joseph, not drivel, but he runs away from the simplest questions posed by the Press but feels quite at home being asked loaded questions, unopposed, at Radio One studios!
He is quickly developing a 'new way of doing politics' by using the same tactics as Alfred Sant who gave the poor Labour supporters the joy of being in government 22 months of the last 22 years!
Bravo!
P Agius
Dec 21st 2009, 13:40
I'm still waiting for an explanation for the no show of the LABOUR PARTY's 2 members of parliament for a vote THEY wanted for THEIR OWN motion !!!!! Joe Muscat must understand what's happening in his own quarters first before criticising the others' !!!!
Charles Zammit
Dec 21st 2009, 11:49
It is well understood that some spinning from the PN side is required in the aftermath of the hurricane created by Dr. Debono's walk away from Parliament during last Monday's sitting. Dr. Debono was in parliament and he voted Dr. Gonzi asserts. This begs the question why was it necessary for the speaker to vote then????? Stop pullin our legs please Dr. Gonzi.
This attitude is increasingly causing you loss of credibilty everyday.
Galea. L
Dec 21st 2009, 10:12
We're used to YOUR spin Gonzi.
Continue sinning.
The more you spin the more entangled you become in your own spin.
John Schembri
Dec 21st 2009, 09:30
Aren't you the spin expert Dr. Gonzi? After all what was the whole GonziPN campaign if not empty spin? We can all see it for what it was today. A means to get you into power at all costs by the skin of your teeth. I supported your party once, staunchly, you can kiss my vote goodbye, now and forever. You've let us down, and there are no excuses which will hold.