Austin Gatt survived an Opposition no-confidence motion by the slimmest of margins today, with the Speaker casting the deciding vote after Nationalist MP Franco Debono abstained, as he had warned he would do.
Dr Debono had been insisting that the minister must assume political responsibility for the failure of the bus service reform. The vote was 34 opposition votes in favour and 34 government votes against.
In casting his vote at the end of the 11-hour debate the Speaker told MPs and a packed Strangers' Gallery he was voting against the Opposition motion in line with parliamentary practice as explained in Erskine May to preserve the status quo.
Before the vote, Dr Debono said he would vote according to his conscience and in loyalty to the Constitution. He said he had taken his position before the government's announcement of another major change to the bus system and he had acted against that scenario.
After the vote, Dr Gatt in a brief comment said he was satisfied with the outcome of the vote in the House. The Prime Minister said a vote of confidence in the government will be held next Tuesday (see separate story).
Dr Gatt is one of the most powerful ministers in the Lawrence Gonzi government, and also one of the most controversial, seen by many as being brash or even arrogant, while others see him as a doer.
Dr Gatt cut his political teeth within the Nationalist Party, where he headed its electoral office before becoming general secretary in 1988, taking over from Louis Galea.
In 1996 he stood for election for the first time and was immediately elected. He resigned his post as PN general secretary, taking the blame for his party's electoral defeat.
During the 22-month Labour governemnt, Dr Gatt was shadow minister for justice, local councils and housing.
With the PN's return to government in 1998, he became Minister of Justice and Local Government – his initiatives including the introduction of the wardens. At this time he started making a name for himself for initiatives aimed at promoting information technology.
With re-election in 2003 he was formally appointed Minister for Information Technology but was also made responsible for government companies and corporations including Air Malta, Gozo Channel, MIA, Sea Malta and the dockyard. MIA and Sea Malta were subsequently privatised. He also became responsible for investment promotion in 2004.
This was a time when Gatt and other ministers pushed reforms at the dockyard and Air Malta which, with the passage of time, were shown not to go far enough. The dockyard was eventually sold while Air Malta is currently going through another restructuring process.
After the last elections Dr Gatt was made Minister for Communications and National Projects with responsibility for IT, the Water Services Corporation and Enemalta, Malta Shipyards, the roads and infrastructural projects.
He was at the heart of the controversy over the increase in water and electricity tariffs and later, the contract for the power station extension awarded to BWSC but following a reshuffle made in the wake of John Dalli's departure from the Cabinet responsibility for Enemalta and and the WSC was transferred to the WSC.
At this time Dr Gatt, with the prime minister, spearheaded the Renzo Piano plans for City Gate and also launched the bus service reform.