I read the reaction of the PN to Joseph Muscat’s press conference wherein he called on the Prime Minister and the PN executive to take immediate steps to stop the political instability which presently reigns in our country.

The PN’s reaction that Dr Muscat was bowing to extremists within his party could be described as hilarious had it not been so utterly stupid. What is harming our country is Dr Gonzi’s obstinacy in not accepting that he no longer commands a majority in Parliament, not through anything done by the leader of the opposition or the Labour Party, but due to one of his former parliamentary group’s members.

In civilised and democratic countries, any Prime Minister who finds himself/herself in the same situation as Dr Gonzi is in now, would unhesitatingly call for a vote of confidence in Parliament. So that if such a vote is won the government would be able to continue governing. But if the vote is lost, then the PM would advise the head of the country – in our case the President – to dissolve parliament so that an election is held to establish a new government.

It is only in this way that the present instability can end. This has also been said by numerous serious commentators. Only the Prime Minister and his GonziPN see it so stupidly different!