PN cracks whip, expects all MPs to vote against motion
PN motion urges Austin Gatt to continue work of improving bus transport network
Transport Minister Austin Gatt leaving the Nationalist Party headquarters, yesterday. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
The Nationalist Party’s executive has called on all its MPs to vote against the Labour party’s motion of no confidence in the Transport Minister as pressure mounts on dissenting backbencher Franco Debono to toe the party line.
In a meeting that lasted an hour yesterday, the executive unanimously approved a motion put forward by general secretary Paul Borg Olivier “recommending” that Nationalist MPs vote against Labour’s motion in Parliament.
Dr Debono did not attend the meeting and when contacted confirmed he would abstain in today’s vote.
“I will not be an accomplice with those who will make a mockery of democracy and I will abstain,” he said.
Leaving the meeting yesterday Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he did not want to speculate when asked what would happen if Dr Debono abstained.
However, some of Dr Debono’s parliamentary colleagues told journalists outside the PN headquarters that they expected him to vote in line with the parliamentary group.
Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino, party whip David Agius, parliamentary assistant Beppe Fenech Adami and backbencher Francis Zammit Dimech said Dr Debono should vote according to the party line.
The motion of no confidence in Transport Minister Austin Gatt over his handling of the bus reform will be debated today and a vote is expected this evening.
If Dr Debono abstains the government’s hope of defeating the motion rests with the Speaker’s casting vote.
Dr Gonzi said that during the executive’s meeting on Monday, Dr Debono was given the possibility to propose an amendment to the Opposition’s motion. “This avenue has not yet been exhausted and it remains open until tomorrow (today),” he said.
Dr Gonzi skirted the question when asked whether he considered the motion to be a vote of confidence in the government and insisted the bus reform was an important one which had been promised in the PN’s electoral manifesto. The government took the decision and believed in this reform, he added.
On the issue of time allocation for today’s debate, in which Dr Debono has been given five minutes to speak, Dr Gonzi said all MPs, including the Deputy Prime Minister, were allotted five minutes because of time constraints.
From the government bench it is only the Prime Minister and Dr Gatt who have been allotted more time: 30 minutes and one hour respectively. Dr Gatt did not comment after the meeting.
The motion proposes another meeting of the executive in February to assess the progress of the changes to the bus network that will be introduced next week.
It also urges Dr Gatt to carry on with his work to improve the network and take all contractual measures necessary to ensure bus company Arriva assumes responsibility and provides the necessary buses, frequency, punctuality and efficiency to satisfy the demand.
The motion also notes that Dr Gatt had already shouldered political responsibility for the route changes that caused widespread criticism when he offered his resignation but this was rejected by the Prime Minister.
In the only reference to the widespread criticism the reform has received from commuters, the PN motion notes that the service has not yet met people’s expectations especially on certain routes, at particular times and on the frequency of service.
Dr Debono has insisted all along that he wants Dr Gatt to shoulder political responsibility for the failures that have characterised the new bus service since its introduction in July.
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Joe Portelli
Jan 13th 2012, 22:29
Dr Debono should have consulted his constitiuents , who elected him as a member of a party, before telling everyone he will not join the party in rejecting an unprovoked attack from an opposition who have buggerall to offer. That is no Democracy. All the Maltese voters deserve better, and not distracted with tunnel visioned power games. If PL are elected they would need another Despot like Gaddafi as he has been in the PL psyche for 35 years - does anyone really deserve such people? Elections should be decided on what a Party can achieve and its record and not on getting a party leader snookered, ok for a weekend joke, but one ought to consider the consequences - even if the lame PM is relected they would have no motivation to work harder as its seems that we measure power by snooker games and not what a party delivers ..........
Alfred Fenech
Jan 24th 2012, 09:22
Sheep, sheep and more sheep.
Adriano Spiteri
Jan 13th 2012, 19:34
'general secretary Paul Borg Olivier “recommending” that Nationalist MPs vote against Labour’s motion in Parliament.'
U ta' fuq jigbdu l-ispaga
U l-pupazzi jimmarcjaw
Minn 'Pajjiz tal-mikimaws'
ninu gale
Nov 4th 2011, 21:56
ehm ic cirku wasal kmieni dis-sena!
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Nov 4th 2011, 18:17
Jmissek tisthi Gonzi PN. irrovinajt partit
Alfred Fenech
Nov 4th 2011, 13:45
PN cracks the whip... All cows shpuld follow the leader. No hard feelings and no freedom of speech...
Do as I tell you and not as you want.
George Calleja
Nov 4th 2011, 12:42
I think that Dr.Debono is aiming at having ministerial heads on a silver plate. He is all against Manwel Delia who will be contesting the same district as Dr.Debono. The Nationalist MP should be on the look out because his seat is at great risk because of his attitute. All those involved in the transport reform have offered their apology but Dr.Debono is asking for a pound of flesh. He is pleasing the opposition more than the general public.
Mr Duncan Scerri
Nov 4th 2011, 13:10
Wrong. He is pleasing the general public, but upsetting those who seem to equate politics to supporting their football team.
A Member of Parliament is there to represent their constituents. Let's read that again: "to represent their constituents". They are not there to represent the will of Gonzi. They are not there to be sheep to the call of the PN.
FFS, this is so tiresome, but I'll go through it again:
Political affiliations are where you find your views to be close to a general principal. It does not mean you agree with everything. For example, I'm sure that something less than 100% of PN voters agree with the decriminalisation of homosexuality, yet there are gay PN MPs. This is not a paradox, this is how things are.
If you believe that everyone must do as Gonzi dictates (a sort of Kim Jong-Gonzi, as it were) then you should support the dissolution of parliament since this institution would cease to have any purpose, as debating any issue would be irrelevant, since the will of the Great Leader must be obeyed.
However, I (and many like me) prefer to live in a society where our views are represented and those whom we elect to serve (please note that word) us remember that they work for the electorate and only the electorate.
Philip Hili
Nov 4th 2011, 21:45
There is more than the man in the street is aware of!!!!
O R Busuttil
Nov 4th 2011, 12:17
Maybe someone should be reminded that the term "minister" originates from Latin and it held the meaning of "attendant, servant". I don’t see how this bickering is serving the Maltese who don’t really care about “who” but care about “what, when and how” for everyone’s wellbeing.
Paul Camilleri
Nov 4th 2011, 11:48
il-partit laburista qatt ma kellu kultura ta' rizenji meta kien fil-gvern u saru oxxenitanjiet mill-kbar imma mill-oppozizzjoni nghamluha tal-vergni u difensuri tal-poplu.Ghandkom passat wisq mahmug
R Axisa
Nov 4th 2011, 15:19
Ghandek zball - insejt meta rrizenja Charles Mangion minhabba zball tekniku???
robert pace
Nov 6th 2011, 07:23
mela insejt ir rizenja ta Mangion u george abela nahseb ghadek fl-istellel nahseb ridt tghid il Pn qatt u qatt ma kellu xi rizenji wahda minkejja it tahwid u tkissir ta kumpaniji . Staqsi liema u nghidlek jekk trid imma mhemmx ghalfejn , forsi int mux thoss il wega tan nies qieghed komdu mhux imdendel bi xoghol fuq hajta habib. hallina tridx jghaddi zmien ta kulhadd u about time ghax hadd ma jiehu gost jara maltin bhalek issiru dittaturi minkejja it twemin li jkollok trid iccedi u tghid nibni mill gdid ghal zmien ahjar. Tghallem ftit id demokrazija u innutli noqodu nitkelllmu fuq passat ta tletin sena ilu...
E. Azzopardi
Nov 4th 2011, 11:42
Those MPs who think this was a big mess up ( and in fact it should be ALL of them as this is very obvious) should be left in liberty to vote as they wish. Yes, indeed, democracy in Malta needs to be strenghtened and how.
Saviour M Garzia
Nov 4th 2011, 10:45
Dr Franco Debono was elected by people to rappresent them in parliament. He is part of the PN but if he had recieved complaints from nationalist voters what is he expected to do,ignore them because the party says so? A political party is made up of different people with similar idiological believes and if these persons feel hurt they naturally contact the member that is rappresenting them. In a democratic state voices should be heard ,its not a Dr F.Debono vs Dr A.Gatt thing but what the people are feeling. This is the total logic about the debate and Dr Debono should be hailed as a hero for standing up for the Nationalist people who voted for him.Busses are used by both parties sympathizers.
Louis Muscat
Nov 4th 2011, 13:39
Dr Franco Debono was elected by people to rappresent them in parliament. He is part of the PN but if he had received complaints from nationalist voters what is he expected to do,ignore them because the party says so?
As a representative of the people, he should take action and try to sort things out, but what does the people gain by asking for Dr.Gatt resignation. For the people, if it's Dr.Gatt or anyone else, doesn't matter, What matters is to have a good service. I think that once Dr.Gatt have started this, he should be left to finish it, after all I think he is the best man to face Arriva. So it is Dr.F.Debono vs Dr. A .Gatt. and nothing else. The only people that gains from his resignation is the PL because they like to see him go, as he had the guts to change many things, were others failed.
Joseph Aquilina
Nov 4th 2011, 10:24
Well we all know how the speaker used to vote during Dr.Sant two years in power when there was a tie ... so I hope labour and Joseph will not show a new level of hypocrisy if today the speaker follows on those footsteps … but maybe I am asking too much!!
Ramon Casha
Nov 4th 2011, 10:23
ALL MPs are reminded that they are REPRESENTATIVES... not of the party, but of the citizens of this country. First comes loyalty to the country, then loyalty to the party as a whole, and lastly to individual party bigwigs.
mario gellel
Nov 4th 2011, 09:55
The vote of no confidence has taken on wider significance after Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the whole Cabinet was “assuming political responsibility” for the reform.
WELL IF THE PM IS SAYING THAT THE WHOLE PN CABINET IS ASSUMING POLITICAL FIASCO, THEN HE SHOULD DO THE ONE HONOR PACE AND RESIGN LIKE ALL MEMBER OF PARLAMENT IN EU COUNTRIES DO.
victor bonello
Nov 4th 2011, 10:35
From what I read yesterday, by doing so, the PM has put the burden on Franco Debono. Should this vote not pass, it would not reflect solely on Dr Gatt, but on the Governmant that would have to resign.
Malta cannot afford at this momen to go to the polls, it would mean disaster unless this is what Dr. Gonzi wants. Does he want to kick the bucket?
Michael Magri
Nov 4th 2011, 09:40
Quote... "..Dr Debono should vote according to the party line.."...Unquote
But what actualy is, in this very serious case, the (PN) party line, may i ask...??? Is this a confirmation that the GonziPN Regime does not care at all about the so called Political RESPONSIBILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.....!!!! Does the suffering pain of the whole Maltese Citizins caused by the `FROĠA FROĠUN` of the Arriva Bus routes don`t mean anything at all to the PN government...!!! Or the most important thing to this government is to CLING TO POWER at all costs....!!!
This case is a VERY GRAVE Political Failer By ALL MEANS and in a True Democracy, it merrits the IMMEDIATE Resignation of ALL THOSE concerned.... U MHUX NILGĦABU BILL_BŻALLU....!!!
X`GĦARUKAŻA.....!!!!!!
Tony Morris
Nov 4th 2011, 09:13
As each MP rises to speak I'd like them to state the last time the used the bus service!
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 09:12
"PN cracks whip, expects all MPs to vote against motion".....this is democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of thought in the gonziPN regime! The Svengali hold of austin on the floundering PN ship is adding further ballast which is sinking the directionless Castille vessel to the bottom of the Opoosition benches...
however, should Franco abstain, me thinks that the Speaker will throw the lifeline to ali gonzi and his mates!!
...and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on......
M Farrugia
Nov 4th 2011, 09:26
x'gara minn Adrian Vassallo gfhax ipprova jiftah halqu kontra ir-rieda tal-P>L>
Mr Joe Micallef
Nov 4th 2011, 09:49
Now let's see I am given advice about the Prime Minister and the direction of Castille by President of the EU, David Cameron, William Hague, Hillary Clinton and Charles Sammut! Charles who?
Carmel Garcia
Nov 4th 2011, 09:58
X'ghandu x'jaqsam. jitkellem kif irid imma l-poplu l-pn ivvota permezz tal kandidat.
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 10:28
@ MFarrugia,JMicallef,CGarcia.....
to be very honest with you guys..your comments confuse me! But then again, your being part of the flock ( sheep) of aligonzi and his cohorts, one must not attempt to make any sense of your illogical, senseless and partisan comments!
For the umpteenth time...I do NOT subscribe to neither the PL nor to the PN...I am not a blind Blue eyed or Red eyed moron and swallow with gusto and relish whatever lawrence or joseph deem fit to force down my throat for my consumption.
I do not live in the past and the ugly times of mintoff,sant or kmb. I am living in the present and my present is being controlled by gonziPN and his arrogant mates.
I (and you ) are experiencing the arrogance,corruption,unaccountability and "smoke without fire" under the gonzi regime and its parasites.
I believe that the PN needs to remove its prefix gonzi .
I believe that Dr.Mario DeMarco should Caeser lawrence and clean up the PN of the likes of austin and tonio if the PN is to have a chance of reclaiming its credibility and retaining the leadership when the island in the sun goes to the polls in a few months' time!
..and the beat goes on...and the beat goes on.......
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 10:43
@ Joe Micallef.....by the way, I am not giving you advice. I simply and purely voice MY opinion without wearing Blue or Red goggles. I can just imagine you and your likes, going to the mass meetings, waving flags,clapping hands and hysterically screaming..."lawrence,lawrence,lawrence!"..think about it ..try and imagine for a few minutes what goes through gonzi's and his mates' minds while they are looking down at the frenzied and out of controlmasses ?
...and the beat goes on..and the beat goes on.....
W Cassar
Nov 4th 2011, 11:15
@ Charles Sammut
You forget Charles that anyone who has blinkers on (Blue or red) has probably been paid or had favours done in the past or hoping to have them done in the future. This is the only reasoning that I can come up with for illogical arguments and plain dumb blindness!
Charles Sammut
Nov 4th 2011, 11:39
@ W.Cassar....
ahhh Mr.Cassar.......but the blinkered ones you are referring to, do not ever make fools of themselves by attending mass meetings and clapping,waving flags and chanting....those favoured ones stay in the background and meet with their "provider" in private ! The plebeians are the ones who attend mass meetings and get themselves in a frenzy as soon as the dribble comes out of their idol's mouth!
This is why mass meetings are called mass meetings.....for the masses!!
....and the beat goes on....and the beat goes on.......
raymond scicluna
Nov 4th 2011, 09:10
Keep up the good work Dr Gatt. Am sure few were up to simply dare to tackle the reform of the public transport let alone implementing it. Yes there were huge problems rather than the usual initial teething problems but am still very confident that coming 6th november onwards, public transport will be improved considerably. Yes today it will be a tough day for you but whatever the outcome i judge you for your achievements and goals you set up and accomplished in full. Very little others can match them!!
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Nov 4th 2011, 09:37
@Raymond Scicluna
keep up the good work? KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK???? Int bis-serjeta???
X'good work hu lol, zgur mintiex tireferi ghal arriva service, ghax jekk iva ifisser li inti ma tuzax dan is servizz kuljum ghax-xoghol, zgur zgur....mela gej bil keep up the good work. U hallina dalghodu!!!
Joseph J Camilleri
Nov 4th 2011, 11:30
I agree with you. Let Xaxa say what she likes. If it weren't for Dr GATT we would still be stuck in the 19 th century. Dr. Gatt put us in the 21st century long before the new millenium with computerisation, digital systems, digital telephones, ATMs, which he succeeded against all odds and which under the Socialist regime were never dreamt of and thought of as throwing people out of work. The only thing the socialist did about the transport system was only to change the colour of the buses. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK Dr Gatt.
W Cassar
Nov 4th 2011, 09:02
What is the point of having humans mps ... might as well get robots!
Jon Vercellono
Nov 4th 2011, 09:35
What's the use of having political parties, might as well have nihilism.
victor caruana
Nov 4th 2011, 08:54
''Expects all MPs to vote against motion''
Oh yes, like goats!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jon Vercellono
Nov 4th 2011, 09:05
If he wants to be an independent, then he can be an independent. Debono can form his own party. If people want a PN candidate they vote PN; I don't think anyone voted for the F. Debono Party.
M Farrugia
Nov 4th 2011, 09:24
victor ftakkar li min imaqdar irid jixtri.
R ferriggi
Nov 4th 2011, 09:45
to vercellono:
according to your reasoning,,,,,,,,,,,,, european and american as we know it and which we make part of is a flop.
in ALL PARLIAMENTS,,,,, MPS are allowed to disagree with their party line on certain policies!!!!
DONT YOU KNOW THIS??????
THIS WARPED WAY OF DOING POLITICS BLINDLY ACCORDING TO PARTY LINES IS ONLY FOUND ON THIS UNIQUE SPECIAL HOLY ISLAND.
AND MAY I ADD: WHERE RESIGNATIONS DO NOT EXIST.
mario gellel
Nov 4th 2011, 08:49
Theddid, arroganza, imponizmu u mhux anqas nuqqas ta demokrazija. Dak hu il vera Facelook ta Gonzipn.
Please choose the reason of your report below: