MP Franco Debono this afternoon preferred not to comment on the no confidence motion moved in parliament this morning by the Opposition, although it appeared that nothing has changed since he said last week that he would vote against the government. 

"I hope that all this leads the people to realise that the country must urgently embark on an important process of Constitutional reforms which must change political culture and practices and reform the fundamental institutions of our democracy, including the law on political parties and party financing.

"Until then, unfortunately, political parties remain the most unregulated bodies at Maltese law," Dr Debono said.

The MP in the past few months had insisted that the government should move modern legislation on political party financing. He also presented a private motion outlining a wide range of reforms in the justice sector. Last week, minutes after the Cabinet reshuffle was announced, he called for the prime minister's resignation and said the prime minister was controlled by a clique.