Lawrence Gonzi yesterday came out fighting against Franco Debono, saying the rebel MP has no right to usurp the trust of the people that voted for him and should resign from Parliament.
The crisis we have is not a government issue... instead we have a crisis of an individual
In an interview with The Sunday Times, the Prime Minister says he feels betrayed by Dr Debono, who had “suddenly decided he will not support the government unless he becomes a minister”.
Reacting to the Nationalist MP’s statement yesterday that he will no longer back the administration while Dr Gonzi is at the helm, the Prime Minister says: “I don’t accept being blackmailed... I would be doing a disservice to the country... if I were to establish this ridiculous scenario where a Prime Minister can’t decide on a reshuffle because one particular MP who happens to be a single-seat majority holds the government by the throat.”
Dr Gonzi also insists that the issue should be resolved within the Nationalist Party structures since the MP had said the Prime Minister should step down as party leader.
“The crisis we have is not a government issue...We have a crisis of an individual. His crisis is that he cannot accept me as his leader. Fine. That is a party issue and I will, as always, face the challenge and take it in the forum where it deserves to be treated.
“Now I hope he will remain consistent and not change the rules of the game once again. If he’s made this statement, I will hold him to his word. I will take this issue to the party and deal with it there.”
The PN’s Executive Council is set to meet this week to discuss the crisis, which is likely to lead to an early election given the government’s one-seat majority unless an unlikely compromise is reached.
In a 90-minute press conference yesterday, however, Dr Debono insisted he would not resign and nor would he support the Nationalist Party unless Dr Gonzi stepped down as leader. “It is Dr Gonzi who should resign... I will support anyone else to lead the party,” he said.
The Prime Minister says he will not accede to Dr Debono’s demands and will only step down if he believes it is in the national interest.
However, although Dr Gonzi says he will do everything possible to avoid an election due to the severe economic challenges posed by the coming year, he acknowledges he will have no option but to accept “that an election would have to be called” if there is a loss of confidence in the government of the day.
Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday wrote to Speaker Michael Frendo asking him to urgently reconvene Parliament to determine whether the government still enjoys a Parliamentary majority in view of political developments.
Dr Gonzi will this morning address a pre-planned dialogue meeting in Marsaxlokk, which forms part of Dr Debono’s constituency, where he is expected to receive a show of support.
Read the interview at:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120108/interview/-I-feel-that-Debono-has-betrayed-me-.401386