Nationalist MP Franco Debono is on the brink of forcing an early election by withdrawing support of a one-seat majority government. A relatively similar turn of events happened 14 years ago when former Labour leader Dom Mintoff brought down Alfred Sant’s Labour government. Christian Peregin and Kurt Sansone look at the two cases.

Dom Mintoff saga

November, 1997
Former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff criticises Prime Minister Alfred Sant’s leadership in Parliament on various occasions, abstaining on several votes related to the Budget, but vows not to bring down the government. Opposition leader Eddie Fenech Adami says Dr Sant has lost parliamentary majority.

March, 1998
Mr Mintoff abstains in an opposition motion against the government’s foreign policy but helps defeat an opposition motion of no confidence in the government. Then PN general secretary Lawrence Gonzi says this created a “grave and serious” situation of uncertainty. Dr Fenech Adami calls for Dr Sant’s resignation and says this is a constitutional crisis: “A Prime Minister should never stay in office if Parliament votes against its major policy.”

May
Mr Mintoff misses votes in Parliament on loan bill because he was in Libya discussing matters with Muammar Gaddafi. Speaker uses casting vote.

June 8
Mr Mintoff votes against a motion in Parliament on plans to regenerate the Cottonera yacht marina, defeating the resolution. Labour parliamentary group meets and vows loyalty to Dr Sant after he offers to give up leadership.

June 9
Dr Sant holds meeting and calls on Mr Mintoff to resign in the national interest. Addressing supporters in Vittoriosa he accuses Mr Mintoff of having more friends among dictators than democrats. Labour condemns Mr Mintoff.

Dr Fenech Adami says crisis was caused by Dr Sant and advises him to consult the President not to prolong the instability. Dr Sant accuses opposition of voting against Cottonera motion just to get into power.

June 14
Party journalist (now Opposition leader) Joseph Muscat says an early election would be a “win-win situation” for Labour in an article entitled ‘Better a day as a lion than 100 days as a sheep’. Dr Sant addresses mass meeting and vows to lead Labour to another victory, hinting at an early election.

June 15
Mr Mintoff says he does not agree with an early election but refuses to resign and says he will continue as a parliamentarian in the country’s interests, not Dr Sant’s.

June 16
Dr Sant warns that if the Cottonera project is voted down again he will dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections because the government cannot be blackmailed or threatened any more. In Parliament, Mr Mintoff says the President’s first duty would be to see if anyone else could form a government, rather than call an election.

June 19
Mr Mintoff makes a marathon speech in parliament asking Dr Sant to retract accusations about him and urges him not to call an election. Insists Cottonera vote should not be vote of confidence. Says he will abstain if motion is tied to confidence.

July 7
After weeks of discussion on the Cottonera contract amendments, Mr Mintoff votes against the yacht marina motion which was tied to a vote of confidence.

July 8
Dr Sant calls extraordinary general council to approve motion for call of early election.

July 9
Then deputy leader (now President) George Abela says he is against an early election because it is not in the national interest and will resign, as he did, if the executive decides to go for it.

July 10
Labour general council resolves to hold snap election while condemning Mr Mintoff.

August 3
Dr Sant announces early election for September 5 after weeks of speculation about possible reconciliation with Mr Mintoff.

September 6
Labour loses election by a large majority.

Franco Debono saga

December 14, 2009
Nationalist MP Franco Debono leaves Parliament before two votes are taken on opposition amendments to motions setting up parliamentary committees. The government is forced to rely on the Speaker’s casting vote to defeat the amendments. Dr Debono returns to Parliament for the final vote. He is then tasked with chairing the Committee on the Codification of Laws.

December 19
Dr Debono says he will not topple the government but asks for more respect for Parliament, the introduction of the right to talk to a lawyer before interrogation and the enactment of a law to regulate party financing.

January 11, 2010
The Labour Party gives notice of a parliamentary motion calling for the immediate introduction of the right to legal assistance before police interrogation.

February 10
The law granting suspects the right to consult a lawyer comes into force seven years after Parliament legislated in favour of it.

November 4, 2011
Dr Debono abstains on an opposition motion of no confidence in Transport Minister Austin Gatt for his handling of public transport reform. Dr Gatt survives by the Speaker’s casting vote.

November 8
Dr Gonzi announces he will chair a task force on the new bus system. In the evening, the government wins a vote of confidence in Parliament with Dr Debono voting in favour.

December 1
Dr Gonzi says he will consider splitting the justice and home affairs portfolios, days after Dr Debono informs the Prime Minister he is uncomfortable approving the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry’s Budget vote.

December 3
The Budget estimates for the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry are approved during an uneventful parliamentary sitting.

December 21
Dr Debono shocks the country when he warns the Prime Minister that he will withdraw parliamentary support unless the promise to split the justice and home affairs portfolios by year’s end is fulfilled.

January 6, 2012
Dr Gonzi announces a Cabinet reshuffle appointing three former parliamentary secretaries as ministers. He splits the justice and home affairs portfolios and withdraws the pay rise ministers awarded in 2008.

An infuriated Dr Debono calls for the Prime Minister’s resignation and insists he will vote against the government if a vote of no confidence is presented in Parliament.

January 7
Dr Debono tells a press conference he will serve under anyone but Dr Gonzi. Opposition leader Joseph Muscat writes to the Speaker asking him to urgently reconvene Parliament to address the current instability.

January 8
PN supporters show their support for the Prime Minister during a political meeting in Marsaxlokk, a village in Dr Debono’s constituency.

January 10
The PN parliamentary group vows loyalty to Dr Gonzi and says Dr Debono’s only honourable way out is to resign.

January 11
The PN executive expresses confidence in Dr Gonzi and announces it will convene a meeting of its national council to discuss the political crisis by January 29. Dr Gonzi says Dr Debono should resign.

January 12
A stormy meeting of the House Business Committee fails to agree on a way forward as government and opposition MPs expect each other to declare whether they would table a confidence motion.

The government says the Prime Minister will be on government business in Tunisia and Qatar between Monday and Thursday, a declaration that drew an immediate rebuke from the Labour.

January 13
The Opposition tables a motion of no confidence in the government. The Prime Minister cancels his trip and PN accuses Labour of being in a rush to seize power.