Christian Peregin
Franco Debono’s University thesis lands in the dock
Renegade MP Franco Debono has admitted parts of his University thesis may contradict his actions today but argues that desperate times call for desperate measures.
Blogger Nicky Azzopardi this week fired up the blogosphere by publishing extracts from the thesis that jar considerably with Dr Debono’s recent actions and declarations.
Dr Debono, a government backbencher, says he lost confidence in the government, primarily because failing ministers were promoted not sacked.
But as a law student in 1999, he had written otherwise: “[MPs] of the party in office should be extremely reluctant to vote against the government, or even to hold individual ministers to account, if that would embarrass it.”
When contacted, Dr Debono said many quoted extracts were simply “generic academic statements” and his thesis only proved such issues were always close to his heart.
“Of course MPs should be extremely reluctant to vote against the government,” he said, “that’s how it should work in an ideal model, where parliamentary democracy is functioning healthily.
“But I think there are grave deficiencies in our system.
“Just to give one example: In the information era, Parliament’s only means of communication is the radio. That says it all.”
“If these were frivolous issues, it would be fine but we’re talking about the fundamentals of democracy,” he insisted.
Dr Debono’s 1999 doctoral thesis contains chapters dealing with discipline, candidate selection and ministerial responsibility.
Interestingly, it speaks about governments turning into “oligarchies”, which is what Dr Debono claims happened to the Lawrence Gonzi Administration.
It also speaks about the role of backbenchers and ministers and warns that Cabinet government has rendered Parliament “an impotent spectator” (see quoted extracts).
Speaking to The Times yesterday, Dr Debono said the Maltese system was “not normal” and “very different from what you read in textbooks”.
“For starters, we still do not have a law on political parties and their financing. All these things influence the kind of stand you take.”
His battle to persuade the government to introduce the right to a lawyer for suspects facing police interrogation was a “perfect case study”.
He had spoken both internally and in Parliament, calling for the law to be enforced. When nothing was done, he decided to abstain from a parliamentary vote.
“But even then, the government waited for the opposition to table a motion. Procrastination is the order of the day, even on matters of fundamental human rights,” he said. “If this is not a serious issue, I don’t know what is.”
He said the prevailing circumstances in Malta were “exceptional” because the Prime Minister promoted ministers even when they did not have the support of a backbencher who was proven right on such issues.
“How can a minister be promoted when he is responsible for the fact that all police statements taken before 2009 are tainted by a breach of fundamental human rights and when even the police statements being taken today could be in breach because the lawyer is only allowed before and not during interrogations?”
Dr Debono conceded that such issues had not sparked any protests in the country but said this was because the public did not understand their importance.
'Too much stability is just not desirable'
Franco Debono is critical of those who suggested that governments should be given more seats in Parliament to ensure stability.
“Too much stability is not desirable,” he said, adding that the most stable form of government is a dictatorship.
The one-seat majority was a reflection of what the electorate wanted to see and had proven to be popular because it kept the government on its toes. Those who suggested otherwise were “crawling out of democracy”, he said.
Asked whether he would stop “teasing the country” (as argued editorially by The Sunday Times) and clearly declare how he would vote in next week’s motion, he said the government was the one teasing the country when it wanted no time limit for the debate on the motion.
He added that he had already declared his intentions and nothing had changed since then.
“There is a simple solution to all this. The Prime Minister, or whoever else is responsible, must resign.”
Some extracts from the doctoral thesis
☑ “Members of Parliament of the party in office should be extremely reluctant to vote against the government, or even to hold individual ministers to account, if that would embarrass it . . . If MPs do not like what the team is doing they must keep quiet or leave.”
☑ “Michels persuasively argues . . . that the true aim of party leaders is often not that of pursuing the declared objectives for which the organisation was established but, rather, of ensuring the organisation’s survival and, with it, the survival of their own power positions . . . Whenever their decisions are challenged by the rank and file, they threaten resignation, which is “an oligarchic demonstration, the manifestation of a tendency to enfranchise themselves from the control of the rank and file”.
☑ “In my opinion this concentration of power in the hands of the leader has been bred of two circumstances. First, the oligarchical tendencies examined above and, secondly, the strict discipline envisaged by Cabinet government.”
☑ “The development of party organisation within the context of Cabinet government and ministerial responsibility has at times rendered the position of the legislative to that of impotent spectator.”
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Joe Fenech
Jan 22nd, 07:21
Who cares about 'contradictions'?! Politicians, philosophers, scientists all change course or review their stances during their life. Why are we so allergic to change? A person who thinks changes. One who doesn't is a useless lump!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 22nd, 16:07
We are not allergic to change. We are allergic to change for the sake of change even if it a change for thr proven worse.
K. Vella II
Jan 22nd, 04:40
I hope Nicky Azzopardi shares his written wisdom in public if/when he gets to submit his own dissertation.
Joe Grech
Jan 21st, 19:42
I see absolutely nothing wrong in Dr. Franco Debono first writing generic comments (as he did back in 1999 in his Law Thesis as a law student) and then retracting on some of these comments when a seasoned M.P.
We all learn through experience do we not - that's what learning curves bring about.
I would have been shocked and disappointed had Dr. Debono stood by his earlier student comments when more mature and knowledgeable about the inefficiency and very possible corruption that exists in Malta's Justice and Courts systems.
Reform does not come about through complacency and a desire to please the party bosses. National interests should come before political intrigue.
DR EMMANUEL BEZZINA,MA,MAG.JUR.[EU Law],LL.D.,
Jan 21st, 19:31
A thesis is basically a submission of a documented assertion which can be defended, can be contradicted and in time be thoroughly overhauled.
But then : take the Catholic Church -------------- all I was taught about Catholic Religion in my childhood and youthood has most of it been declared not to be applicable anymore. This Church has conveniently altered its mainly superficial teachings to hold on to its manipulative positions. The historical developments now contradict most of the Church`s teachings, though regrettably the thousands of individuals it butchered by attrocious torturious methods for totally misconceived conceptions and lust for power are now but history.
A thesis is a mental challenge - currently I am working on yet another thesis where I am attempting to pinpoint the real source of making something fundamental actual..................naturally I will defend what I am writing,but it does not mean that in time to come, me or my eventual intellectual intruders will not turn my current conclusions upside down: so let Franco Debono carry on with what he has believed in and believes in to be the role of a representative of the people not of a quagmired Political Party.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 21st, 20:05
The person who submits an academic doctorate thesis is supposed to DEFEND his thesis against the criticism of others testing its validity, not to say one thing but to behave differently shortly afterwards.
K. Vella II
Jan 22nd, 04:36
Wow, Francis Saliba, you must be ancient if you consider a full 11 years to be a short period of time. Besides, do you hold the exact same values and perceptions that you did when you were 24?
Joe Fenech
Jan 22nd, 07:23
Francis Saliba, free spirited people analyse, think, change, do things!
John A. Gauci
Jan 21st, 16:54
I do not care what I wrote 12/13 years ago. That was done to obtain excellent results for my thesis !!!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 22nd, 16:10
@ K Vella et al.
I mantain my ethical standards for a lifetime not for 11 to 13 years only. I am not a chameleon.
G Falzon
Jan 21st, 16:04
“If these were frivolous issues, it would be fine but we’re talking about the fundamentals of democracy,” he (Debono) insisted.
Is Dr Debono declaring that his doctorate's thesis dwelt solely on frivolous matters? The man is eating and annihilating himself!
G Falzon
Jan 21st, 15:59
"because the public did not understand their importance"
But the God Debono knows more than the public. He decides what is good for the public and what is not. He teaches also the public and not only the Prime Minister.
The truth and a different agenda will soon make it to the surface!
Cecil Herbert Jones
Jan 21st, 14:51
Whether or not one sees Franco Debono as some sort of trouble, one thing is for sure. He is a criminal lawyer used to addressing Judge and Jury. His Thesis began and ended while still a student at University. Practising it in real life proved to him that his Thesis was at best ideal.
Has he abandoned that ideal just because his actions are contradicting his Thesis? I don't think so. On the contrary I think he is defending that ideal against those who have eroded its foundation.
He may do what he is doing, so may they defend themselves in numbers against him. In the end the price of integrity will be as high as his place in history. Theirs too!
Lawrence Camilleri
Jan 21st, 14:29
Then your thesis was a whole lie. Actions speak louder than words. As the Maltese saying goes "Daqqa ta' pinna ma thassarhiex b'daqqa ta' fies".
Willie Grech
Jan 21st, 14:18
I thought that, like other things, a thesis submitted to the University will always be considered as CONFIDENTIAL. If yes, does this breach the Data Protection Act? What right had this Nicky Azzopardi to publish something from a personal data? Can anyone enlighten me please?
G Falzon
Jan 21st, 16:13
How can a doctirate's thesis be ever classified a Personal Data? See http://idpc.gov.mt/article.aspx?art=116.
As long as I am aware study thesis are available to the public in the university library. I stand to be corrected in this.
Willie Grech
Jan 21st, 17:16
@ G. Falzon.
study thesis are available to the public in the university library.
Agreed. But they will available in the university library to be taken by other students to study not to use it for some kind of gain, in this example for political gain.
Dorielle Soler
Jan 22nd, 08:45
Once a document is public, its public . Which should make us all reflect about what we commit to paper as it is guaranteed to jump up and bite us on the *** at some point in time.
Edward Camilleri
Jan 21st, 13:16
If a person does not learn and adjust to the times, then he does not grow up! How can one expect that Franco's reasoning stays as it was 10-15 years ago?
Mr Joe Micallef
Jan 21st, 12:31
Instability originates from the unstable!
John Cassar
Jan 21st, 12:26
Every scrap of 'evidence' is being used to garner sympathy for the Prime Minister against Franco Debono.
When will the wise guys at Pieta realise this works in the opposite direction? Maybe in a post mortem after an election trashing? I hope not!
Cecil Herbert Jones
Jan 21st, 12:19
One must remember, or bear in mind that a Thesis for a University Degree consists of textbook English not real English.
By textbook English is meant that the author is deliberating text, which granted, he has to defend in a 'Viva', but that however is hypothetical in its meaning and psychological in its emotion.
Real English is spearheaded primarily by emotion and is deliberate only in as far as the context remains imminent, but which is dealt with physically and emotionally in order to deal, in fact, with reality at hand.
In other words textbook English is a monologue in as far as the author is concerned, whereas real English is interactive and necessarily improvised. One should and can easily understand the difference, for example look at a soldier in training and then see him in battle.
In my view therefore, Dr Debono's Thesis should be interpreted in the context of the purpose it was written and applied, and likewise his words today, though seemingly contradicting what he had written and took an oath to stand by should be interpreted within the context of a very different reality.
Would it be far from the truth to say that Franco Debono's Thesis deals with the rule of law, but that his present 'quarrel' is about the law of rule? Of course I am here using textbook English, and although it is not a thesis, it is nonetheless a hypothesis.
chris caruana
Jan 21st, 12:06
so to pass his exam he wrote what he wrote in his thesis , just to pass !! why did'nt he write the oppposite if he really believed what he believes ??
Carmel Xuereb
Jan 21st, 12:36
ghax il-hsieb jinbidel maz-zmien, jiena naf nies li kienu Nazzjonalisti ferventi minn tfulithom u llum ma ghadhomx ghax meta dak li jkun jinqaras hu biss iwegga u hadd hliefu ma jghid ahh. Jiena u inti ma nkunu hassejna xejn. Hekk jghid il-proverbju Malti -- is-smien isjaru l-bajtar. Issa jekk trid tifhem ifhem u jekk ma tridx erga ibda mur l-iskola.
E. Azzopardi
Jan 21st, 12:05
Times change and people change with times.
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jan 21st, 13:55
I agree with you Mr E. Azzopardi that not only times change and people change with times. But as life goes on we all learn that there is a great difference between the academic life and the real life. It seems that many Nationalists supporters became static even after Malta joined the EU. A good example is the divorce referendum.
Matthew Bonello
Jan 21st, 12:03
Come next Thursday, we will thankfully have got rid of this big mouth, and he will have much more time to admire himself in the mirror. Beppe Fenech Adami's revelations today only make it even more clear that Franco Debono is a one-man show, interested in nobody and nothing but himself. You may bring down a government Franco Debono, but when all is said and done, you will go down in history as the man who betrayed your constituents, your party, and ultimately the whole country. Shame on you!
stephen koludrovic
Jan 21st, 17:03
Just because you think that he betrayed his party, does not mean that he betrayed the country.
If he is considered as a traitor by a part of the country, he is probably considered as a saviour by the other possibly even a larger majority par of the population.
Mario J Spiteri
Jan 21st, 12:02
Zomm sod Dr. Debono, ftit int akbar minni fl-eta u rnexxilek bil-kuragg tieghek timla lili.
Issa xbajt nara lil dar-ragel ghax tkellem bil-verita u dak li jhoss jigi mkasbar. Halluh bi kwietu u attakkaw jekk ghandkhom l-argumenti u lilu personali halluh personali.
Dik demokrazija hej, fejn min kien jippriedkaha spicca biex jeqridha!
Tal-misthija prima qualita!
chris caruana
Jan 21st, 11:56
so he was not serious anynore since form 2 ??
Alfred Dimech
Jan 21st, 11:55
Who cares??
All this effort by PN supporters to vilify FD and similar effort by PL supporters to deify him. What's the point? Who cares whether he had noble intentions or not? All this is moot. For all that matters he could be doing this because he disagrees with Lawrence Gonzi's choice of tie. It doesn't matter. All that counts is that he said he will vote against the government next Thursday and thus there will probably be an early election.
Does anyone honestly believe that whoever is elected will enact any of Franco Debono's propositions? Can anybody honestly see Labour or PN implementing legislation for limits on party funding or more transparency? Do you think they will consider implementing his suggestions on libel laws when it is the most useful tool in elections, where you can practically accuse an MP of murder on the eve of an election and then just pay a few hundred euros a year later?
If Franco Debono thinks he's doing this to improve democracy then he has failed miserably. What is parliament discussing right now? Is it FD's suggestions? No, PL and PN are discussing changes to ensure that no maverick politicians pull something like this off again. Democracy in Malta is merely a minor inconvenience which parties have to deal with every 5 years. While I may agree with some of Franco Debono's criticisms, his actions have taken us a step back.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 21st, 13:19
When Franco Debono laid down high standards for ethical political behaviour when he wrote his doctoral thesis, and when he now dismally fails to live up to those standards set by himself and so early during his first few years in parliament, than Dr Debono is "vilifying" himself and without any assistance ofrom anybody else.
The only hopeful aspect of this sorry situation is that if he persists in his present course, as he is being incited to do by the LP rank and file, he will soon be writing a quick THE END to a brief and inglorious political life whoever wins the next election whenever it comes.
Jonathan Camilleri
Jan 21st, 11:50
How will Dr. Gonzi's resignation bring about solutions?
chris caruana
Jan 21st, 12:12
Exactly , i could not agree more.
But it is his only way out now , since he has gone too deep in the sh....t .
t5rying to cover up that he was upset at not being chosen as a minister !!
Randolph Peresso
Jan 21st, 11:40
There is a yet simpler solution - the resignation of Franco Debono.
Victor Vella
Jan 21st, 12:14
Franco Debono will remain for ever. Gonzi will resign and will be lost in the wilderness of incompetency, power-glut, corruption, arrogance and gross lies. Debono will be lost like Gonzi if he does not make Gonzi to resign as the skalda f`subajgh iz-zghir will turn a big pala tal-bajtar mimlija skald kontra Franco Debono.
Joseph N. Attard
Jan 21st, 11:00
I will abide by the Prime Minister's enjoinder, and will not use any of the dozens of terms that come to mind. I will simply state that it has long become obvious that Dr Debono is acting only in one person's interest, his own. In so doing, he does not care one iota for his constituents' wishes, and indeed for the counrtry's overall good. It is for this that he will go down in Maltese history.
Mr Albert Dimech
Jan 21st, 10:35
Please, stop this sleaze. You cannot extract parts of a thesis and not give the whole context, every respectable academic knows this. What has this got to do with the whole issue?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 21st, 10:24
The headline for this news item should have been "Franco Debono’s Univerity thesis lands HIM in the dock"
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 21st, 10:21
A government that is elected to govern for a limited period of not more than five years and that is compelled to seek re-election every five years by regular free democratic elections cannot be an "oligarchy".
Let us not bandy about difficult words hoping that everyone in the audience is daft, does not know the real meaning of "oligarchy" and in consequence will be mystified and impressed by the sophistry of someone who pooh-poohs his own doctorate thesis as some idle acadenic exercise not to be taken seriously.
J Borg
Jan 21st, 10:21
Why shouldn’t we have Franco as our prime minister?
He’s intelligent , energetic , he got us rid of Louis Galea and Austin Gatt and he will get rid of Lawrence Gonzi!
He will also get rid of Joseph and his lot in the Labour Party.
Why not?
Nicky Azzopardi
Jan 21st, 10:18
http://www.azzopardinicky.com/2012/01/practice-what-you-preach-francos-thesis.html
Victor Vella
Jan 21st, 10:12
Franco Debono wrote that thesis when he was still young and inexperienced as every student of his age would normally has done. When one writes a thesis he/she quotes academic writers to buttress his/her arguments. A student at a young age will have any experience of life and theory is different from realities. I myself meet with foreign lecturers who are armchair critics and they are only involved in pure academic environment without having the true experience of this and that discipline. The only big case study is the experience one can take from life itself. So trying to manipulate the minds of the people against Debono by quoting one`s dissertation is a mere petty arrogance where one has reached the levels of absolute human obscene credentials trying to hide behind the true facts of reality where this Gonzi regime is trying to manipulate the minds of the Maltese people in the most obscene levels of idolatry.
Terence Grech
Jan 21st, 10:09
LOL .. a close minded blog which claims to be just thoughts on Maltese Politics but its sole aim seems more like constant attacks to Franco Debono and PL.
In Malta it seems like the freedom of expression isn't functioning well.
Emanuel. Vella.
Jan 21st, 09:54
you have to be cruel,to be kind.
Paul Cassar
Jan 21st, 09:51
GETTING HOT, PERSONAL AND VICIOUS..................................by the hour.
FRANCO PREPARE FOR EVEN WORSE ATTACKS.....................PN STYLE ...........attack the
messenger and to hell with the message EVEN THOUGH IT WAS FORWARDED BY SEVERAL OTHER PN MPs.
Jonathan Camilleri
Jan 21st, 09:45
“How can a minister be promoted when he is responsible for the fact that all police statements taken before 2009 are tainted by a breach of fundamental human rights and when even the police statements being taken today could be in breach because the lawyer is only allowed before and not during interrogations?”