Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech, speaking on behalf of the Nationalist Party on Bondi +, insisted today that Franco Debono was given all the space he required to work within the PN.
Dr Zammit Dimech was replying to comments made by Dr Debono in the same programme last week. The PN was granted a right of reply by the Broadcasting Authority.
Dr Zammit Dimech said that prior to January 6, when, he said, this whole crisis started, Dr Debono had been granted all the space he needed to take the initiatives he considered important.
He was made chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for the Codification of Laws where he worked enthusiastically and prepared an Administrative Code.
He was also appointed Parliamentary Assistant in the Office of the Prime Minister.
Dr Zammit Dimech noted that Dr Debono twice formed part of delegations led by the prime minister on important visits abroad.
After his calls for legislation on party funding, Dr Debono was given a team and could proceed with the drafting of this Bill.
Dr Debono had also called for the right of legal aid to persons under interrogation to come into force, and that was what had happened.
Dr Debono had also insisted, with justification, that the ministerial responsibilities for justice and home affairs should be separate, and that was what had happened.
On January 6, in the morning, Dr Debono declared online (on timesofmalta.com) that he was on the prime minister's side, Dr Zammit Dimech said. Then after the prime minister exercised his right to reshuffle the Cabinet, Dr Debono said he would work with anyone other than Dr Gonzi.
This, Dr Zammit Dimech said, was a crisis which Dr Debono had precipitated. The action he had taken was also an action against himself as he had indicated that he was even ready to act in a way which would bring down the government.
Dr Zammit Dimech said it was the right and duty of every MP to make suggestions within their parliamentary group and they could take initiatives in parliament. Dr Debono could have continued to work further in parliament and within the parliamentary group to promote his initiatives.
But, Dr Zammit Dimech said, no MP had a right to use his vote to bring down a government, in whose team he was elected to serve in a free and fair election.
Questioned on the 2,000 votes that Dr Debono got at the general election, Dr Zammit Dimech said the people who elected Dr Debono elected him to serve as a Nationalist MP.
MPs, Dr Zammit Dimech said, had a contract with their electors to keep the party in government for the term of the mandate.
Furthermore, he said, Dr Debono was elected to the House after he had inherited votes from Louis Galea and Helen D'Amato. He therefore had a moral obligation to ask such people how they wished him to represent them and the people who voted for them.
Dr Zammit Dimech insisted that it was the prime minster's exclusive prerogative to decide who should serve in the Cabinet.
No MP could act like a prime minister, saying who should stay, who should go, and what needed to be done.
Furthermore, Dr Zammit Dimech said, he was surprised that the Labour Party was trying to take advantage from the situation of a person who was offended because he had not been appointed minister.
Dr Zammit Dimech confirmed that contacts were being maintained between the PN and Dr Debono.