The leaders of the two main political parties yesterday vowed to continue acting in the national interest in crucial decisions that have to be taken this week.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi promised to find an end to the “small splinter in the little finger” but warned party supporters that the issue facing the ruling Nationalist Party was not the only one that had to be addressed. The bigger issues developing abroad had to be tackled, warning “not to miss the wood for the trees”.

He called for calmness, serenity and reflection so the right decisions could be made in the national interest.

He was addressing party supporters at the party club in Balzan who turned up in numbers to cheer their leader as his government this week faces a motion of no confidence in Parliament after one of his own MPs, Franco Debono, withdrew his support. Dr Debono is insisting that Dr Gonzi should resign.

In a question-and-answer session with delegates as part of the Labour Party’s annual general conference, Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat said the country was in dire need of political stability, something that his political adversary was not addressing.

Repeatedly cautioning party supporters not to assume that Labour would win the next election, Dr Muscat criticised the way Dr Gonzi handled the issue, placing his party’s interests before the country’s.

The timing of an election very much depends on the crucial vote on the no-confidence motion, which is expected to be taken on Thursday.