Franco Debono this evening strongly criticised the decision taken by Leader of the House Carm Mifsud Bonnici for the parliamentary debate on the no-confidence motion to start today week.
"What happened today showed how some people's only concern is to cling to power and procrastinate at all costs because they enjoy a comfortable position," Dr Debono said.
"These antics, these puerile antics clearly show that the concern of certain people is not the national interest and the removal of instability but to cling to power. Those who have been dragging their feet are stamping them as well.
"Procrastination has been the order of the day, in, for example, justice and home affairs, and other areas. Not all the people can afford the comfort and luxury of such procrastination. The people's interest is to remove instability, and this stand does not help."
Dr Debono would not say how he would vote at the end of the debate, but said the supreme interest at the moment should be the removal of instability.
"Between the removal of instability and egoistic power interests, the choice is clear," he said.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said at a meeting of the House Business Committee this evening that the no confidence motion proposed by the Opposition would start being debated on Monday evening, and there would be no time limits for the debate. The Opposition disagreed with the decision and accused the government of delaying tactics (See separate story).
Dr Debono said a week ago that he would vote against the government. Today he said there had been 'contacts' with the government. He said he stood by his views and principles and insisted that those responsible for the current situation and for their failure to carry out much needed reforms, should resign.
PN ACCUSES OPPOSITION OF ARROGANCE
The Nationalist Party said the meeting of the parliamentary House Business Committee showed how the government was willing to have Joseph Muscat’s no confidence motion debated and decided in parliament according to the rules of the House.
However this evening’s meeting also confirmed the arrogance of the Opposition, which had the cheek of trying to gag the debate by limiting the speaking time of government MPs to just 75 minutes.
Its efforts failed and the Opposition had to withdraw its shameful procedural motion, a motion which showed how the Labour Party has not changed, the PN said.
COUNTRY BEING HELD HOSTAGE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PROBLEMS - PL
The Labour Party accused the government of delaying the debate and the vote. It said the Opposition had responsibly sought agreement on how the debate would be held. But the government had refused all attempts at agreement.
The country was being held hostage to the government’s internal problems, a situation which was causing more instability, the PL said.