Franco Debono’s performance in Friday’s parliamentary, “no confidence in Austin Gatt” debate, coupled with his track record as backbencher in the present legislature, leads an ordinary elector to wonder whether we have here a young, village lawyer championing the cause of democracy in the face of opposition from his own party, or merely a disgruntled ambitious junior politician looking out for his chance of advancement without much thought of the harm he might be causing to the party that nurtures him. Is he Malta’s latter-day version of the great Edmund Burke whose relationship with his Bristol electors proved so controversial? On the score of parliamentary oratory and profundity of political thought I would say he does not match up.

History has since shown us that party loyalty is an essential quality, indeed a pillar upholding democracy. Where party loyalty is lacking, the very existence of a political party is threatened and where parties are so insecure democracy ceases to be. Certainly in a democracy a party member has the faculty and the duty to promote his ideas of ministerial responsibility and accountability (and sundry political concepts) within the doors of his own party; but he cannot use Parliament as his platform to sound off a political position that is out of line with the official recommendation of his own party. And if he continues to do so it is at his own risk and peril.