Political storm brewing?
Yesterday's vote in Parliament did not see the government lose the Parliamentary vote but the opposition's no confidence motion was only defeated with the Speaker's casting vote, since Nationalist MP Franco Debono abstained.
While the Prime Ministers aid after the vote that the oppositon's motion lacked Parliament's support, both the Opposition and Alternattiva Demokratika said the government had lost its majority and an election should be called.
Dr Debono had at the beginning of the month said he would support the opposition but he later softened his position and said he may abstain.
He kept the country guessing to the time of the actual vote and then abstained but not before giving the government a lashing in a hard hitting speech which he said he was making with a heavy heart because of his love for the party.
Both in his speech and on previous occasions, Dr Debono calling for reforms and resignations in instances where people failed to deliver.
Following yesterday's vote, the Prime Minister said he would be taking measures within the PN to ensure there was backing for government policy.
Late yesterday, the PN announced that its general council will be meeting on Sunday.
Contacted and asked whether he would attend, Dr Debono refused to comment.
However, party sources said the situation was a tough one because the MP was not easily swayed and in spite of his calls for resignations, there had been none so far.
Dr Debono said in his speech that people whose decisions badly affected society should resign. He said, in Parliament and on other occasions, that he was the victim of a bad political system.
On a television programme some days ago, Dr Debono had said that he had resigned from the PN some months ago but his resignation was not accepted.
Dr Debono had said that he had resigned from the PN as a measure of last resort because his constant calls for things to change were not being heeded.
Matters seemed to come to a head when Dr Debono said the Prime Minister had promised him to divide the Home Affairs and Justice responsibilities by the end of the year.
The Prime Minister denied he had given that time frame but the ministry was eventually divided in a reshuffle in the first week of January, with Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici retaining home affairs and justice going to Chris Said.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici was, however, also given responsibility for local government and was made leader of the House.
This move seemed to have infuriated Dr Debono who said that people who were not delivering were being given additional responsibilities and were being promoted.
Several attempts were made between then and yesterday's vote to try to rebuild bridges and several MPs, including the Prime Minister, personally or publicly urged Dr Debono to return to the fold.
A brief 15 minute meeting between Dr Debono, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg last Sunday was inconclusive but in yesterday's vote Dr Debono abstained.
He said before casting his vote that he was doing abstaining with a clear conscience, taking into consider the support he had received from thousands of people.
252 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 28th, 15:27
M'ghandix aptit naghmel panigierku halli nerga nsemmi kemm partiti laburisti tal-passat sawtu kemm felhu lill-haddiem u qerdu lil Malta. Kienu gabuna gharkubbtejna. Gabu faqar, ingustizzji, arroganza. korruzzjoni u vjolenza organizzati....nerhulhom dawk ghalissa. Ghalissa nghid biss li l-Imhallef Giovanni |Bonello, WAHDU kien iddefenda 170 kawza imhabba ksur tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem. Tafu kontra min kienu l-kawzi? KONTRA GVERN IJIET LABURISTI
Ivan Esposito
Jan 28th, 14:42
This country needs to move forward. Both parties have had good and bad spells in government. Can we look forward and stop playing the politics of fear. Our youth needs a vision of hope and solid opportunities. Those nearing the end of their working life need to rest their minds that they will have a decent pension which is actually worth something.
At present even the maximum pension does not allow a decent standard of living.
We talk about education... these are students not numbers. Why are we ending up with 2000 secondary students each year finishing 12 years of statutory education without the basics in education.
The success of society is not gauged by how well the top 10% do, but how badly the remainder are fairing!
The time has come when we must pool all our resources together and take the next step facing new challenges.
Alfred Fenech
Jan 28th, 18:53
Gvern saved by the bell ....Mr Speaker., Who soon will be out of work or a PN candidate. RIP.
Victor Vella
Jan 28th, 01:06
Viva, Viva, Karnival, karnival u Gonzi karnival. Waqalna wiccna mad-dinja. Immissu jisthi. Hlief riha ta` hruq u hatab jinten m`hawnx. KARNIVAL, KARNIVAL U GONZI IR-RE TAL-KARNIVAL.X`BICCA JIGRIELNA JEKK NITILFUH GHAX BIR-RIHA TINTEN MA NISSAPORTUX.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 28th, 00:33
Debono had every right to abstain but not after saying he would vote against the motion. He is less of a man for that!
Alfred Fenech
Jan 28th, 14:47
Pity Dr. Debono did not go all the way and vote against. We would have our mind at ease for a new ELECTION. Now he is out in the cold. Do as I tell you now.....
Victor Vella
Jan 27th, 23:37
@John Borg
Illum xi bicca laham tinten Made in Pieta` u hija maghmula mill-intiena li gejja mill-marmarja ta` Gonzi PN.
Schembri Ray
Jan 27th, 23:07
If Franco Debono has thousands after him, he may be elected as an independent. There were others that said they have thousands after them, but got nuts when they were tested.
Hossam Helwani
Jan 27th, 21:28
@ pat hobson
if there is anyone who is colour blind it is definitely not you, you just see red. I dont think you have any idea what you are talking about. lejber has the dirtiest history when it comes to education, did you forget that in order to get into university you had to aquire 20 points? Heaven help you if you were doing your A levels in a private school! Did you forget that there was a wage freeze dated from 1981 to 1987?
Did you forget that lejber boycotted the name of the leader of the opposition on the then fabulous xandir Malta? Did you forget that Maltas independence day people were beaten and pelted with stones because they wanted to celebrate the day?
Did you forget the breaking of the curia in 1984? Did you forget that we were ruled from 1984 to 1987 by a prime minister without being represented by one single vote?
Did you forget that we were not allowed to travel frequently? Did you know that we had to pay LM50 to a minister to get a colour tv?
Did you forget that every budget in Malta was even popular than the eurovision just to get a 2 mils reduction on " ton taz zejt and luncheon meat?
Did you forget that way back in 1979 , this glorious newspaper was burnt down by lejber thugs to shut it up?
Did you forget that in 1986 kmb refused permit to hold a political meeting because it was dominated by lejber thugs in zejtun?
Did you forget that pn clubs were being broken every day in Malta?
it seems that you are not of age because either you are to ashamed to remember them or you were far from being born.
But sadly for you and the likes of you " WE REMEMBER AND WE SHALL NEVER FORGET THOSE DAYS OF HORROR"
And we will keep on voting to keep those days far away as possible but fresh in our memories so that Malta will never live those dark days again.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 27th, 21:55
Do you forget that the PN conspired with the Church to deny government to the MLP? Do you forget that the PN was pro-fascist?
David Magro
Jan 28th, 06:58
Mr. Helwana.
I believe that you are missing some points...are you that pessimistic...everything the Labour done was wrong....show your true colour my friend. May I refer you to the facts that Labour did:
1. Free Health scheme
2.Free education
3.Vote for Women and equal rights for women not like in other countries
4.Equal salaries for women and men
5.Founded parastetatl companies ( Mid-Med,BOV, Sea Malta, Enamalta, Telemalta etc which this gov dismanteled )
6.Republican constitution where the head of state is a Maltese not a foreigner
7.Students stipend
8.Children allowance
9. Right to read the newspaper you want not like in the 60`s when you could not read the L-Orizzont in govt dept
10.Right to vote over 18 years
11.Children allowance
12.2/3 pensions to all
13. Abolished poverty and serfdom my friend ( I do not think that you remember these )
14.Closed the foreign naval base in Malta and started a free base dependent economy for Malta
15.A newly Industrial relations act....in the 60`s this did not exists my friend
16.Minimum wage
17.Housing estates
18. Home owner ship scheme ...more then 7 schemes my friend in which the workers started to own their houses.
19.Mintoff barganed over Lm17million duing negosiations with Lord Carrington...to Maltese economy
20.Free oil following negotiations with Libya
21. Established relations with China...first European...others PN saw this as a threart !
22.Created the Middle class which did not exist
23.Social benefits from the cradle to the grave system
24. The Grain silo at Kordin
25. Instrafucture and development all over Malta
26. Boom in Tourisim in the 1970`s...a new development in Maltese economy
Sorry Mr. Hosmi...but I have to close at this point because I am exceeding the limit...look at both sides of the coins as I`m afraid your party carries a log of Bad examples which you are afraid to show. Cheers mate!
David Cole
Jan 28th, 09:22
Tisma lilek to tidhaq. Tidher li blu hi. nhux qed nghidlek li l-labour ma ghamilx zbalji imma anke il -PN ghamel. Id-differenza hi li l-Labour ghamel hafna gid ukoll filwaqt li l-PN le.
Education-tiftakar meta l-labour fetah l-iskejjel tal-gvern ghal kulhadd. ghal haddiema kollha. ghax qabel fi zmienkom is-sinjur biss kellu dritt jitghallem l-iskola u jidhol l-universita ghax ihallas. Tiftakar meta il-labour ta l-istipendji lil istudenti. u nahseb tiftakar ukoll l-istudenti ta l-universita jintrabtu mal bibien ta kastilja. Mur fittxhom wiehed wiehed dawk l-istudenti u ara x'kulur kienu u x'pozzijonijiet ghandhom.
wage freeze- ehe ghamel wage freeze il-labour wara xiex imma. Wara li l-paga tal-haddiem gholija 6 darbiet iktar milli kienet minghajr ma gholla il-hajja. Gabu sinjur lil haddiem. taf kemm kien jghati zieda il-labour Lm2 fil gimgha mhux €1.16. Missieri min Lm8 fix-xahar f'daqqa wahda spicca LM59. minghajr ma gholiet il-hajja.
Il-bonus-tiftakar kif kien johrog il-bonus?? Cash kien itijulek halli ma jaqtalekx taxxa fuqu. mhux illum ittik 200euro u jehodlok mija.
plus ghax ma semmejtiex. Ghamel il-pensjoni ghax fi zmienkom niex li kienu jispiccaw illum mix-xoghol, l-ghada kienu imorru jitalbu bieb il-belt.
Boycot- int taf li l-membri parlamentari taghkom damu snin ma jitdhlux parlament bhala boycot? le milli jidher
Independence people beaten-ma ghamlux tajjeb. pero int taf li l-labour meta kien jitla ghawdex u in-naha ta fuq ta malta waqt meetingta mintoff kienu jisutawna bil-gebel u johorguna il-qrun.bil-qniepen tal-knisja iddoqq. Int taf zgur li l-laburisti hadu l-interdet mill-knisja u kienu jidfnuhom fil-mizbla u l-Pn qat ma qal li kienet qed taghmel hazin il-knisja.
meta telgha l-prim ministru mighajr maggoranza tal-voti nahseb insejt li l-ligi dak iz-zmien kienet tghid hekk. Kien il-labour li irranga f'dik t llum.
Budget-bilfors kienu jistennewh iktar mill-eurovision. taf ghala? ghax jekk jghid li il-halib ghola 2 mils matul is-sena ma kienx jghola iktar. mhux bhal lum is-sena kollha tmur meta tmur jghola kollox.
zejtun meeting- jidispjacini ta int tmur fhalq l-iljun.Jekk taf li hemm cans jinqala l-inkwiet mhux ma tmurx. le imma ghax kienu ihobbu li jinqala l-inkwiet. ma insemmux ukoll li meta l-labour ghamel meeting haz-zebbug hemm hekk il-balabostri waqu minn fuq il-bjut wehedhom.
ma kienx tajjeb li thallas ghal TV pero illum sirt thallas biex idahlulek it-tfal xoghol ghax mhux kemm taf imma lil min.
Pn clubs broken- ma kienitx haga tajba imma zgur ma insejtx il-bombi li ma kienu jispiccaw qatt lil nies li kienu jghinu lil labour. fosthom karen grech li l-qorti tat ragun li kienet xi haga politika.
zgur mhux forsi li l-ebda partit ma jista jinsa lizbalji li ghamlu. pero ahna niftrakru ukoll l-isptarijiet pinna li kellna fi zmien il-ministru moran mhux issa basta state of art u ghandu inqas soddod min st lukes.zgur li niftakru ic-children allowance zgur niftakru li xoghol kien hawn kemm trid ghal kulhadd. niftakru l-airmalta, sea malta it-tarzna u hafna fabbriki jifthu. zgur niftakru lin-nies jixtru l-ewwl djar taghhom ghax qabel kulhadd bil-kera kien. u xi nghidu ghal plots tal-gvern li ta bix-xejn lil kulhadd minghajr kulur. u xi nghidu li ta il-vot lin-nisa ghax ma kellhomx say fil-pajjiz. xi nghidu ghal kaxxa ta malta mifquwa bil-flus.
le dan kollu tal-pn ma jiftakruhx. taf x jiftakru li ma setawx jixtru l-mars ghax mintoff kien jipprova li kulhadd jixtri mill-prodott malti halli flusna natuwhom lil haddiema maltin. Jekk dak il-gid kollu kienu id-dark days mela issa x qed nghixu the darkest days of Malta.
Raymond Gauci
Jan 29th, 09:46
tou don't sound maltese so shut the fuck up and let the true maltese do the talking.
If we were in your country our heads will be cut off if we said anything against the regime.
Can you tell us what nationality you are if you have the guts
Angelo Vassallo
Jan 27th, 21:12
@ Mr Michael Debono
X'industrija tal-helu qieghed titkellem dwarha? Ghal li jista` ikun qieghed tghid ghal fabbrika wahda biss, dik tad-"Deserta"? Nahseb li insejt kemm kienet hazina u kienet tiswa Lm 0.07c2 waqt li cikkulata Cadbury (meta kont issibha bil-black market jew minn taht il-bank tal-grocer bil-mohbi, kienet tiswa Lm0.07c5 Sur Mr Michael Debono. Mid-dehra ma kontx tghix f'Malta, forsi TEZISTI biss kont u nahseb li ghadek biss TEZISTI anki llum
Hossam Helwani
Jan 27th, 21:08
@ j brincat
never in the history of politics was ever a party crowned with 2 zeros! kmb and jm , I amuse myself a lot because I follow what others say unlike some with red glasses. but certain zeros just behave like little children and talk about their granny and her pies.
Raymond Gauci
Jan 29th, 10:18
Make it 3 zeros and include yourself even if you are not Maltese
Angelo Vassallo
Jan 27th, 20:52
@ Mr Michael Debono
X'industrija tal-helu qieghed titkellem dwarha? Ghal li jista` ikun qieghed tghid ghal fabbrika wahda biss, dik tad-"Deserta"? Nahseb li insejt kemm kienet hazina u kienet tiswa Lm 0.07c2 waqt li cikkulata Cadbury (meta kont issibha bil-black market jew minn taht il-bank tal-grocer bil-mohbi, kienet tiswa Lm0.07c5 Sur Mr Michael Debono. Mid-dehra ma kontx tghix f'Malta, forsi TEZISTI biss kont u nahseb li ghadek biss TEZISTI anki llum.
il-P.N. irrovina ipprova jaghmell-istess bl-Air Malta-ghasafar tac-comb izda ma rnexilux. Illun qed jipptova jeqrida il-Partit Nazjonalista.
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Jan 27th, 20:04
Both the PN and the diehards that supports it has become a laughing stock, this farce has got to stop for the sake of the country, you cannot have a parlament with a no majority PM . Unless an election is called out soon i suggest the opposition walks out like EFA did in the 1970s. I was never obsessed with any of the two main parties and always vote PN in the last three elections this time my vote goes in the bin!
Alfred Falzon
Jan 28th, 17:38
@ Charles C. Brown
A pity wasting your vote that way, when your favourite icon and Kadhafi stooge KMB is still up and about.
Why don't you spur him to set up another party, this time to campaign in favour of restoring the filthy Kadhafi regime's rule?!
Alfred A. Falzon
Mr Charles.C. Brown
Jan 27th, 20:04
Both the PN and the diehards that supports it has become a laughing stock, this farce has got to stop for the sake of the country, you cannot have a parlament with a no majority PM . Unless an election is called out soon i suggest the opposition walks out like EFA did in the 1970s. I was never obsessed with any of the two main parties and always vote PN in the last three elections this time my vote goes in the bin!
Stephen Farrugia
Jan 27th, 19:54
The Hon Debono has now said all he had to say. Surely there's nothing he left out.
He has now showed us he is not ready to vote against the PM's stance.
What remains now is that he resigns. His points been made.
Thank you Franco. Good night.
mario salnitro
Jan 27th, 20:53
Issa jghaddilek il-kbir ghadu gej
Mr Marcel Dingli
Jan 28th, 05:32
Doqqilna Freddie Portelli. Doqqilna habib.
mark borg
Jan 28th, 09:24
lol...in your dreams haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha ha h ah ha h ha .
C Galea
Jan 27th, 19:40
Can any of those PN supporters tell me if they are happy with this result???
Paul Giordimaina
Jan 28th, 07:36
Yes I am.As long you didnt win im happy.
A. Xuereb
Jan 28th, 13:46
@ Paul Giordmaina: x tiirispondihom lil dawn li jghidulek: huma hadu l 500 u lilna tana 1.16....Xorta tghid li kuntent l aqwa li m hemmx PL fil gvern? Ghall grazzja t Alla l elezzjonijiet ma jintrebhux bil voti tal fanatici imma b ta min juza mohhu.
priscilla ciangura
Jan 27th, 19:30
DAwn tal pn helwin ta
hafna ghajjat u storbju umbad meta jigu ghall fatti qiesom friefet il lejl .
ma tmorrux tpoggu bil qeghda u taghlqu halqkom ghax dall pajjiz irgiel irried li jmexxuh mhux balla tigieg
Hafna biki u ghajjat u tghajjir umbad kif jigu al verdett kull ma jaghmlu ibaxxu rasom .
tghjaru lin nies taghkom tal klikka umbad tispiccaw parti minnhom
KIF TISTA TAFDHOM IL TAL PN .
Ejja halli sunday niqghdu narawkom tinanqghu gol headquarters dejjem jekk tmoruu ghax jidher li fejn tridu tghidu li maqghudn u meta tigu biex tidhru hadd ma jmur minkom !!
Insomma balla tigieg bil pedegree
Paul Giordimaina
Jan 27th, 20:00
MRS (Presly) you got a lot of hate so why dont you stop insulting people and when the time comes just cast your vote,because thats why you never win an election because the PL supporters are so full of hatred that good people say to themselves are we going to vote for this lot
A. Xuereb
Jan 27th, 20:13
@ Paul: the pot calling the kettle black.
Mr Marcel Dingli
Jan 28th, 05:31
It seems many Maltese still have much ciangura in their manner of speach.
John Borg
Jan 27th, 19:20
Taht il-lejber, xi bicca laham tinten minn sqallija konna nieklu ghax guh u ghakx biss kien hawn. il-lejber dejjem qamel gab, hadem bis-second hand u llapazza.
illum ingergru u ma nindunawx kemm ghandna halqna fix-xghir. fi zmien il-lejber konna ngergru ahna u tgerger zaqqna. illum ingergru b'zaqqna mimlija u b'saqaf fuq rasna. uzaw mohhkom nies!
Pat Hobson
Jan 27th, 19:29
The joke of the day!!! Under labour the wages went up by six times and more than they were in 1970. Under labour health, education and social services were created. Under labour many new roads were created and still there. After nearly 30 years, now they need some maintenance, much unlike the new ones, already cracked and broken (see the road in front of the Cemetery of The Turks) and near the Arriva Park and Ride in Qormi. Under labour, although there were 3 recessions, employment was always on the increase, even when there was the rundown problem in 1979. Of course there's more, but I think it will suffice for today. You're so colour-blind that you even try to belie the truth.
R Bonello
Jan 27th, 19:39
bla bla bla, and it's spelled 'LABOUR' and not 'lejber'.
mark borg
Jan 27th, 19:52
Spjega l-istora kollha u faqqar x ghaks u guh u faqar sab il-labour meta tela 1971 wara il famus Pn taht borg olivier u il-knisja li jigvernaw kienu flimkien.
Fis sittax il sena Malta il gid li tqassam dak iz zmien ma nergu narawh qatt ,djun ma kelniex u kumpaniji tal gvern fosthom l-airmalta jhallu il-miljuni.....childrens allowance,skejjel bxejn,leave sick leave ,govt bonuses u housing estates...DAWN SEMMIJHOM U TIPRUVAX MINGHALIK TQARRAQ JEW IDAHHAQ.
IL-PN dejjem kienu IS SAHTA TA MALTA .Il-poplu illum induna u se jergha jitfakhom xi 16 il sena kif ghamiltu mil-1971 sa 1987...u ma igvernax il-labour fis sittinijiet minhabba il propoganda qarrieqa tal kinisja ta dak iz zmien.
s grima
Jan 27th, 20:27
anke meta ghamel il pensjoni, children allowance u IS SERVIZI SOCJALI KOLLA. tinsix li l parit tieghk ivota kontihom kolla dawn ta
Christine Vella
Jan 28th, 09:10
Madoffi se nibqaw insemmu iz-zmien li ghadda? Qabel kont ixomm il-laham jinten u illum qedin inxommu riha ta moffa. Gvern li tant ilu hemm li ghajja u mhux jiffoka. Jifokka biss fejn tidhol xi naqra zieda. Naqra = 500eur MIT-TAXXI TAL-POPLU
joseph francalanza
Jan 27th, 19:02
jghidu xjghidu tal partit nazzjonalista il bierh il partita giet draw u flahhar flok taw penalties hareg ir referee u skurja hu .
insomma la kuntenti intom kuntent kulhadd
issa biex turuna l ghaqda fil partit jekk jogbok nhar il hadd nisperaw li jigi fostkom u thalluh jitkellem ghax jekk ma jigix inutli toqghodu tiktbu li ivvota maghkom ghax lanqas fostkom ma jkun irried joqghod .
ghax jew makom jew mhux !!
chanelle vassallo
Jan 27th, 18:54
mr de martino , we are living in2012 not in the 1980's . please stop living in the past
Wally Vella-Zarb
Jan 27th, 19:35
Ms Vassallo, leave the poor man alone. He is happy within his little bubble of fantasy. Like his leader, he is only managing to fool himself. Unfortunately for him, in the general election there will not be the speaker's vote to save his party and his bubble will then burst. All that will remain for him will be the memory of a party that was once described as great and glorious - a l-o-o-o-o-n-g time ago...
rodney bone
Jan 27th, 18:53
konna nisimghu fl antik li tal labour hamalli u vjolenti .
wara haz zebbug , marsaxlokk u specjalment wara il bierah gol belt indunajna li nahseb mghadomx mall labour imma qalbu mall PN . Hlief ghajjat u glied mall pulizija ma rajniex u kull ma kien jonqos hu li jaqbdu jsawtu in nies lohra .
meta kien inqala ta mintoff kieku biss kien hemm kwart ta dan lammont ta nies biex jistennew il mintoff barra u dan kien waqqa il gvern .
Insomma issa bi cert nafu il hamalli fejn huma - xejn iktar u xejn inqas
John Borg
Jan 27th, 19:17
mela ma smajthomx jghajjti viva l-lebjer? ara vera l-laburisti ma tinbidlu qatt
Steve Zammit
Jan 27th, 23:04
int bis serjeta rodney !! ara il vids fuq utube....tista tara is supporters tal-PL jaghajtu 'Viva l-lejber viva il-lejber' ukoll ta
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 18:51
I cannot understand all the halabaloo from Labour and their sympathizers... Alfred Sant used the casting vote 7 times in 9 months, before Mintoff voted with the PN against the Cottonera privatisation project!
In this case, the casting vote was used again, however FD didn't vote with the PL, as happened in 1998 in the case of the Labour party... Moreover, I remember EFA telling Sant that the PN will support the PL if they continued with the negotiations with the EU, however Sant was stubborn, froze Malta’s application with the EU, brought our economy to a stand still and ended as he ended, leaving our country in a total mess.
In this case, when it comes to parliament, it's totally different. Labour has no vision of how to lead this country for the coming future. All they want is an election to win, and that's it, just like a football game.
There are unintelligent people true, as I can read hereunder, however thank God, the last 2 elections showed well that people are not stupid! I remember in 1997 when I was still a university student, and during my 3rd year in 1997 I had to carry the burden of a loan. No, not a car or apartment loan but a loan to pay the government back the stipend it was giving me and pay it off monthly when I start working.
Today the SAME Labour party says that it's not true that when in power they are to remove stipends! Heh! Go figure! The past shows well what Labour is, and no... They haven't changed. The logos, jingles, PR have changed... however there is a saying in Maltese 'il lupu jbiddel sufu izda l' vizzju hemm jibqa'
No thanks Joseph… I am sure you are better off as the journalist you are, however not as Prime Minister. I shudder when I remember you saying on Super One ‘jekk Alla hares qatt Malta taghna tidhol fl’Unjoni Ewropea’ …!!!
Pat Hobson
Jan 27th, 19:32
Believing your own spins. Unbelievable. Have you forgotten that in March 1998, EFA has passed a motion of no confidence. Have you forgotten that in order to topple the government, just before the no confidence vote, John Dalli was brought on a private jet secretly from Libya to vote, and thus Mintoff was taken unawares, and the Government lost the vote! I pity you for believing your own spin!
Catherine Fenech
Jan 28th, 23:54
Mr. Vella, rigward l-istipendji fl-1997 m'intix tghid il-verita. Fl-1997 jien ukoll kont 3rd year l-universita u l-istipendju tieghi u ta kullhadd fis-sena tieghi baqa l-istess, jigifieri nithallsu stipendji shah minghajr bzonn ta' loan. Kienu dawk l-istudenti li dahlu ghall-ewwel sena li nbiddlet is-sistema. Min kien diga l-universita ma nbiddlitlux is-sistema. Ghadda naqra zmien habib minn dak iz-zmien l'hawn, forsi nsejt ezattament x'gara. Ma naqbilx mas-sistema li kien introduca dak iz-zmien il-Gvern Laburista, pero infakkrek ukoll li l-Pn fl-1998 tela bl-ghajta li ser jerga jaghti l-istipendji SHAH lil istudenti tal-Universita'. Tela u ma zammx kellmtu. Filwaqt li jien u shabi li konna fl-ahhar sena ta l'-Universita bqajna niehdu l-istipendji kif kienu b'mod originali, dawk li kienu lahqu bdew bis-sistema ta'l-Gvern Laburista baqghu b'dik is-sistema tal-loan (jigifieri ma regghux lura ghal-stipendiji originali kif kienu mweghda) u minn kien student gdid bdiet l-iskema ta l-smart card, li xejn m'ghandha x'taqsam mas-sistema tal-istipendji li gawdejna minnhom jien u int tul il-kors kollu li ghamilna l-Universita bejn l-1995 u l-1999.
EDWARD CUSCHIERI
Jan 27th, 18:49
GONZI = KMB
AUSTIN = LORRY SANT
FRANCO = CHALIE CHAPLIN
John Borg
Jan 27th, 19:17
U Edward Cuschieri = Bahnan bil provi
A. Xuereb
Jan 27th, 19:56
@ John Borg: mela tafu lis sur Cuschieri?
@ Edward: good nickname for Franco, he even walks like him
susan matrenza
Jan 27th, 18:48
issa sunday we will see franco back in their quarters , hugging people and all his mates , the ones that mentioned by him as tal KLIKKA !!
this is all an act so why bother what is happening to the PN .
These people got stronger after this vote cause they had the power before and they have much more now cause they are showing to the whole nation that they are untouchables .
Everybody knows in malta that there are few that they are above all . These people they rule the country and they dictate the way we live .
Gonzipn has been like that forever and will remain until we get rid of them .
J. Mifsud
Jan 27th, 18:44
The majority want an election PL + AD = 145698 vote = 50.1 % of votes. Both PL and AD called for an election.
raymond scicluna
Jan 27th, 18:39
Franco s photo says it all. HE s in pain!!He will soon start crying, weeping and stamping his feet so that he will once again gain the limelight. Some people does not have any conscience of what they do, let alone what they did!!!God give me Strength!!!!!!!!
joseph saliba
Jan 27th, 18:30
At least Parliament gave Dr. Gonzi the time he needs (and deserves) to put his house in order. Besides if luck smiles on we'll witness the completion of several national projects.
Joseph Brincat
Jan 27th, 18:40
Joseph Saliba
We'll witness the completion of several national projects
O MY GOD THEY ARE ALL IN DEBT > HELP <
Alan Xuereb
Jan 27th, 18:50
@joseph brincat
Most of them are 85% paid for already. Thanks to the EU.
sharon farrugia
Jan 27th, 18:57
his house is demolished, he has to build it again, by a general election.
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 18:57
%Joseph Mindless Brincat...
85% are funded by the EU and 15% by national funds... thanks to the EU, the same EU your Labour wants us out from!!
joseph saliba
Jan 27th, 19:20
@ Joseph Brincat
You mean another 'hofra'?!?!
Joseph Brincat
Jan 27th, 19:28
Alan Xuereb
85% paid for already thanks to the EU and the REST
DEBT , DEBT , DEBT >>> HALP >>> HALP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ELECTION NOW BEFORE IT IS TOo LATE ??????????
Joseph Brincat
Jan 27th, 20:26
Charles Vella > the most bbbbbbbbbb brilliant .
85% are funded by the EU and 15% by national funds YOU
MEAN NATIONAL DEBIT for that what GONZI PN does best
Victor Vella
Jan 27th, 18:11
Yesterday at about noon all places in Malta were without electricity and there was a smell of smoke. It was revealed that the smell of smoke was coming from the front benches of the government while outside there was a dingy smell. Some said that it was coming from the evil malmalja of Gonzi PN regime that went there to show their support for their falstaff. Some said that at the opera house they were rehearshing The Good, The best, and the Ugly.
Paul Giordimaina
Jan 28th, 04:46
Pepp gheneb qares.Il partit taghkom xqad ghamel,taqta barra vendikazjonjiet transfers zera il mibeda.Tara minek jaghmel xjaghmel il gvern xejn ma hu tajjeb.
John Camilleri Baron
Jan 27th, 17:36
Storm or no storm, the recent political developments have brought out some really good spoofs on the internet. Well done to whoever has the time and patience to create these videos....Have a look at this one...guaranteed to start off your weekend on the right tone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-YonysjumM
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 19:10
Thanks for sharing... :) Really good actually and with good taste!! Have a smashing weekend and thanks for sharing, I had a good laugh seeing this :-)
Stephen Florian
Jan 27th, 17:32
Not simply a political storm but more the looks of a national scale hurricane ever since power went up to someone's head. These will not be happy times for Malta, once again condemned to fall into the rut of political divide. Matters just might get out of hand.
D. Azzopardi
Jan 27th, 18:17
I agree with you totally. People seem to forget the desperate times under the labour government. They say that that's the past and things changed. Really? They had a chance in 1996 and purposely threw our country back to their glorious miserable times. They never change. AND that's why the people kept them in the opposition for all these years. Muscat is just the same. He has the same approach, the same smell of labour mentality. All he does is criticize. They even tried to criticize the government during the Libyan crises. It's unbelievable how the European countries praise the government's achievements so much and for the opposition everything is wrong. Everyone mentions the electricity bills. Do you really think Muscat will cut the price of your bill? Unless oil prices go back to old days he cannot, or only temporary at least. As long as what comes out of their mouth is opposing PN, they're happy. Just like when they celebrated their LOSS in the referendum after the IVA had won! It's useless going on and on.. They will never change. Now people want a change whatever they taste like so the probability is that they will win the next election. Teenagers do not know otherwise except PN so no one can blame them. So let them win and suffer their own consequences. That's how the poor teenagers will have to learn I guess, the hard way. Then another 20 years in opposition?
D. Azzopardi
Jan 27th, 18:59
REPLY WAS TO JOHN BORG
John Borg
Jan 27th, 17:28
se ddumu tispekulaw? qazzistu lil kulhadd. Tahsbu li kulhadd mohhu x'se jaghmel Franco debono? Ahna jimpurtana li nahdmu w naqilghu lira x'nonfqu u r-rota ddur. taht il-PN dejjem kilna l-laham u taht il-lejber kilna l-loqom.
Michael Mercieca
Jan 27th, 17:41
Agreed
Hossam Helwani
Jan 27th, 17:54
It is a very crude comment , but with some very horrifying truth
well said Mr John Borg, how true. how can labour ever face the people without ever uttering an apology of its past ?
Mr Michael Debono
Jan 27th, 18:18
Who increased paypackets to be able to eat meat Labour with increases by the pounds or P.N. with the cents increase
Michael Debono
J. Mifsud
Jan 27th, 18:26
Mela qed jatukhom xi kuntratti jew u qabel kontu tghixu bir-Relief. Ahna dejjem laham kilna, imma taht il-labour kien bizzejjed jahdem ir-ragel biss, u daz-zmien jahdmu t-tnejn u hadd ma jista jlahhaq. flixkun gass minn xi 5 euro sar 17 euro. Igifieri l-laham nej qed nikluh, ghax m'ghandnix biex nixtru l-gass.
john muscat
Jan 27th, 18:33
Veru ghax ahna hadna €500 fil gimgha u huma hadu $1.16. X'ma nieklux laham!!!
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 19:02
% John Borg
VERY true what you say, and so what... They deserve the 500.00 Euro pay rise... I don't care about that! They can have 1,000 for all I care! As long as I continue living the decent life, with a good job, travel, eating out etc they can do whatever they want!
True... under labour, let's not mention the dark 80's... let's mention the 1997, 1998... our economy was at a total stand still! History speaks for it's self what Labour are made of! ...and yes, it has to be mentioned because we, as humans, are made of our past, and it's out past what makes us the people we are today.
raymond scicluna
Jan 27th, 19:32
@ John Muscat. Ismani habib thalliex cwiec ibellawlek ir ross bil labra. L akbar zball li ghamel Gonzi kien li ghamel kabinet zghir b ghaxar ministeri inkluz tal prim ministru u b sitt segretarji parlamentari. Jigifieri Gonzi halla 19 il back bencher ma jiehdu l ebda nkarigu u l 500 euro li hadu zieda huma dawn is sittax bejn ministri u segretarji parlamentari. Issa id dsatax l ohra qedin igawdu pero l professjoni li ghandom. Dawk kollha avukati, periti, nutara etc u zgur li qed jaqilaw id doppju tal ministri mil inqas. Issa nigu ghad dunque!!Il lejber ilu ghexieren ta snin fl oppozizzjoni tahseb li l kabinet joseph ser jaghmlu zghir meta hemm partita mid deputati ilom fil partit u back benchers fl opozzizjoni li hadmu u stinkaw ghal partit. JEkk idahhal biss hamsa zejda mil kabinet presenti l ispiza tigi ferm u ferm akbar mil 500 euro tal onorarja ghax plus dawk trid izzid segretarji personali u staff ma kull ministru!!Din mhux politika imma fatti u ohra if you pay pea nuts you get monkeys. JEkk trid tkun oggettiv jien mhux kontra l pagi tal ministri u tas segretarji parlamentari ghandi imma tac chairmen tal awtoritajiet u s CEO li hi t triplu tal ministri. Hemm intik ragun u mhux sittax hemm imma ghexieren!!Sahha
Angelo Vassallo
Jan 27th, 17:19
@ Antoine Psaila
"Ir-restaurants ikunu mimlijin ghax fiz-zmien il lejber in nies kienu draw jixxalaw imma kien kulhadd bil flus u issa kulhadd jiddejjen biex jibqa jghix kuntent."
L-anqas bicca cikkulata ma kont issib tixtri jekk mhux bil-black market jew minn taht il-bank tal-grocer, ahseb u ara kemm konna nixxalaw fir-ristoranti. Hallina trid!!!!!!!!!
Sinjura Psaila milli jidher inti, jewi ma tohrogx mill-bieb il-barra, jew ghajnejk mhumiex f'wiccek, jew ghamja, jew f'sakra ma tarax art, jew inkella giddieba grassa biex tghid dak li qeghda tghid.
Tonio Farrugia
Jan 27th, 17:41
kemm naqbel mieghek sur Vassallo.
il-problema li hafna nies jinsew kif konna qabel, meta biex tiekol bicca cikkulata bla dut kelna nixtruha black market, jew tixtri gazetta u ikollok tahbi t-titlu, jew issib l-iskola mghaluqa, jew....
Mr Michael Debono
Jan 27th, 18:22
Industrija tal-helu il-P.N. irrovina ipprova jaghmell-istess bl-Air Malta-ghasafar tac-comb izda ma rnexilux. Illun qed jipptova jeqrida il-Partit Nazjonalista.
Thomas Mifsud
Jan 27th, 17:15
Mela taghmlu 3 snin ta wara l-elezzjoni tgergru bil-pudini li jaghmel dan il-gvern, imbaghad meta tibda tissemma elezzjoni tarakhom kollha tmutu ghal partit taghkhom. Mhux ta b'xejn kulhadd jghajjarna li bqajna lura, ghax il-mentalita tal-hmir. Kulhadd gerger meta l-prezz internazzjonali taz-zejt nizel, u l-kontijiet taghna gholew, kulhadd gerger meta sirna nafu li bil-mohbi ta kulhadd il-Priministru ta pocket money ta 500£ fil-gimgha kull wiehed lil ministri tieghu bil-mohbi, kulhadd gerger meta bed ajilghab mal-pensjonijiet, kulhadd jiddispjacieh jara l-assets kollha li kellu l-pajjiz jinbieghu u jsiru privati, kulhadd jiddispjacieh ghan-nies ta l-AirMalta u min ghandu mohh biex jahseb kulhadd jaf li dan il-gvern issa ilu hemm wisq u qed jiehu vantagg mill-poter.
Mela ghala tasal l-elezzjoni u tihraxu daqshekk?? Jien l-elezzjoni l igejja se nivvota l-Partit Laburista, izda fi zmien meta hsibt li ghandi nivvota lil Fenech Adami, kont ivvutajt lilu. Imma mid-dehra ftit hawn min juza mohhu. Kif qal Franco Debono, il-politka ghalikhom hija Passatemp Nazzjonali. Li ghandkhom tifhmu hi li fl-ahhar mill-ahhar mhux il-partit tieghek jew tieghi se jkun rebah jew tilef, izda Malta u l-poplu Malti kollha, ghax lil min se naghzlu biex imexxina lil kulhadd se jiggverna mhux lil min ivvutalu biss. Jekk issir gustizzja u n-nies jivvutaw b'mohhom zgur ma jergghux jaghzlu l-gvern ta Gonzi, imma l-homework il-PN jaghmlu sew u rnexxilhom jihipnotizzaw hafna Maltin. Jiddispjacini ghalija u ghalikhom u ghal uliedna!!
U dan kien messagg minn qalbi u mhux biex nghajjar jew inwegga lil xi hadd kif hafna minnkhom ikollkhom l-intenzjoni li taghmlu.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 27th, 17:44
Sur Mifsud issib diffikulta tghidilna ghala se tivvota labour? X'ma hadtx taht dan il-gvern u x'tistenna li se tiehu taht il-labour?
Hossam Helwani
Jan 27th, 17:59
@ thomas mifsud
you fail to convince me that you ever voted PN ! If you ever have the brains to analise your own comment you just declared that you always voted labour ( nothing wrong with that ) but please stop telling us that it is time for us to change. It is time FOR YOU to change. We know better than to choose labour. Never in the history of these islands had a party been relegated to opposition for 25 years, and it seems we will be beating sweden which holds the current rekord of 35 years!
Andrew Siad
Jan 27th, 18:18
nixtiq inkun naf x 'parentila ghandek Helwani.
Robert Lewis
Jan 27th, 18:19
Sur DeMartino nista inwigbek jien ukoll. Nahseb li sur Mifsud xorta sejjer iwiegbek. Taf x'ma hadx taht dan il Gvern, il 500 euro fil gimgha zieda li hadu huma u li l anqas lilek ma taghawhom u inzied nghid li l-anqas l 1.16 euro ma taghawni lili ghax benestant u kont self employed, dak il GonziPn. U taht il lejber nistenna li ma jkunux Gvern tal klikka bhal ma hu dan. Dan mhux jien qieghed nghidu izda Membru Parlamentari stess Nazzjonalista bhal Dr Franco Debono.
Thomas Mifsud
Jan 27th, 18:36
Nghidilkhom x'ma hadtx taht dan il-gvern? L-ewwel haga qabel kollox lanqas biss jikalkulana lili u lilkhom dan il-gvern. Fl-ittri li baghtu lil kaccaturi u n-nassaba il-gvern givbilhom, fl-ittri li baghat lil ta l-AirMalta il-gvern gidbilhom, fl-ittri li baghat lil tat-Tarzna il-gvern kien gidbilhom, meta wieghed li se jnaqqas il-piz tal-kontijiet il-gvern mhux talli ma naqqas talli rega ghollijhom. Hadilna wkoll dak kollu li kien Malti u privatizzah. Forsi intom li wigibtu b'dan il-mod qeghdin komdi, imma min hu haddiem komuni jaf 'xqed nghid. U ghalxejn tipprovaw taghmlu isem hazin lil Partit Laburista ghax iz-zminijiet jinbidlu u maghhom jinbidlu n-nies.
Dwar jekk ivvotajtx PN mhux importanti jekk temmnux jew le, il-verita hi li min jahseb b'mohhu ma jibqax jinsisti fuq il-partit tieghu anke meta dan ikun qed jaghmel hsara lil Maltin.
Ghalhekk se nivvota Labour Sur DeMartino, u li nistenna mill-Partit Laburista hu rispett lejn il-poplu qabel kollox, tnaqqis fil-kontijiet u fit-taxxi, trasparenza fid-decizjonijiet li jittiehdu (ma jsir xejn bil-mohbi) u serjeta fit-tmexxija. Dak li qed nittama fih u dak hu li ma hadtx minghand il-gvern Nazzjonalista.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 27th, 18:40
Grazzi Sur Robert Lewis ghax verament urejt kemm m'hemm ebda raguni ghala min hu mohhu f'loku ghandu jivvota labour. Mela tieghek ghira hi ghax jien x'jimpurtani x'ha haddiehor jekk il-maggoranza ASSOLUTA tal-Maltin ghandha standard of living li jgib l-ghira lil barraninm kollha li jigu jzuruna. Int benestant? Taht il-PN min mhux benestant ? Anki l-ghazzien benestant. Int tiftakar meta kull jum kien jinharaq xi kazin, xi stamperija, xi kurja, xi dar ta' xi hadd. Tiftakar kemm issawtu nies u INQATLU nies fid-depot? Tiftakar meta biex tixtri ratal tuffieh kont trid tixtri wizna basal? Tiftakar meta konna nkunu bla ilma? Meta miskin hu min jistrajkja? Meta kont trid thallas xi 50 lira biex tiehu telefon, TV set? Tiftakar meta z-zokkor kien bir-ration? Jew meta dehret l-arma tar-regim fuq it-TV nazzjonali....Sibt x'ghamilt b'idejk, Sur Lewis. Grazzi. Il-bierah, il-Belt, urejtu x'nistennew minn gvern laburista. Min ha 500 ewro, min silfuh xi villa hdejn il-bahar, min irregalawlu xi zewg plots...Kompli, kompli, Sur Lewis.
Robert Lewis
Jan 27th, 19:17
Sur Demartino, x'inti thawwad is soltu tieghek. Inti x'taf kif ivvutajt jew kif sejjer nivvota jien. Mela jien naddas rasi fir ramel bhalek u qisek trid tghallem lil kulhadd. Ahna mhux tfal bhal ma kont tghallem int. Ha nghidlek kemm hawn standard of living gholi, taf li fil prezent hawn minn ibiegh il bajd biex jaghaqla lira extra u jlahhaq mal hajja. Dak biss nghidlek. Il kumplament li ktibt int ma fhimt assolutament xejn. Int ivvota kif trid u lill hadd iehor hallih jara hu, int biss ghandek mohhok floku minn ghalik s'intendi. U rigward li int semmejt, ghal menu qabel kont thallas 50 jew mitt lira biex igib xi haga, illum trid thallas eluf kbar biex tidhol fil klikka. Jien niskanta kif niex bhalek tibqa issemmi affarijiet ta 40 sena ilu. U mhux kullhadd ghandu xi jxomm sur DeMartino.
A. Xuereb
Jan 27th, 20:10
jidrilkhom li De Martino xi darba ha jmaqdar lil dal gvern? ! Il malti jghid: Idardarx l ghajn li tixrob minnha. U iva, Sur De Martino, hafna minna gew imcahhdin mill gid li tqassam lil tal qalba, sempliciment ghax ma nivutawx PN. U le, m hijiex ghira, ghax ahna u uliedna nies bhalkhom u bhal uliedkhom, u ma jixirqilniex nibqaw insoffru l hnizrijiet fuq il post tax xoghol gurnata wara gurnata.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 27th, 20:12
Lis-sinjuri Mifsud u Lewis.
MA GHEDTU XEJN. ASSOLUTAMENT XEJN
Giov DeMartino
Jan 28th, 08:36
@ A Xuereb. Ezempji konkreti jekk joghgbok
Robert Lewis
Jan 28th, 15:02
Sur DeMartino. Fuq l-ahhar kumment tieghek wegibtek, pero ma giex ippubblikat, almenu sa issa. Ma ghidt xejn int fur il kumment li addejtlek, biex ma tpaccpac fil vojt u bla sugu. Int tkellem ghalik u titkellimx ghal hadd iehor.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 29th, 09:57
Sur Robert Lewis biex inwiegbek trid tghid affarijiet konkreti. Billi toqghod tghid ghax ma tistax tlahhaq mal-hajja, billi toqghod tghid li kollox gholi, billi toqghod issemmili l-500 ewro.....FATTI rrid jien. Il-fatti huma li kulhadd jghix fil-lussu haw u barra kulhadd jiggieled u jipprotesta..Min ma jistax ilahhaq mal-hajja ma jonfoqx l-eluf f'karozzi sigaretti, safar, ikliet barra, divertimenti ecc ecc. Dawn huma l-FATTI. Jekk trid ichadhom.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 27th, 17:11
Dr. Debono ma jistax iippretendi ,li jiddetta HU x'ghandu u x'ma ghandux isir. Allahares naslu li membru, hu min hu, ANQAS IL-KBIR SALVATUR min ghandu jirrizenja u min ghan du jsir ministru. Ghandu kemm ghandu ragun Dr. Debono HADD ma jaqbel mal-mod kif qed jagixxi. Il-laburisti l-hin kollu jimlewh bix-xemgha mhux ghax ghandu ragun, imma ghax jistennew li jwaqqa' l-gvern. Ma nasalx biex nifhem kif bniedem matur u avukat ihalli min juzah daqstant. Jew jigbed habel wiehed mat-team, jew iwarrab. M'hemmx triq ohra Jiddispjacini ghax jista' jaghti kontribut qawwi lill-partit u hu qed jaghyzel it-triq tal-konfrontazzjoni.
M.Dolores Vassallo
Jan 27th, 17:35
Insejt kemm qlajtlu ftit taz-zmien ilu GIOV, issa qieghed tilaq ukoll.
Giov DeMartino
Jan 27th, 18:14
@Dolores Vassallo. L-ewwelnett niktbu tilghaq. Jien lil kull min johodha kontra l-partit li jkun tellghu naqlaghlu kemm niflah. U ma nistax nifhem fejn rajtni qed nilghaqlu haw. Li jiddispjacini ghalih huwa fatt, imma li jippretendi li jiddetta HU, dak assolutament mhux accettabbli u jien cert li haw anki INT ikollok taqbel mieghi. Mistoqsija semplici: Joseph Muscat PM u wiehed mill-backbencher jippretendi li xi ministru jirrezenja. Inkella jaghmel il-kummiedji li ghamel Franco. Taqbel int? Iddabbarx rasek, issa, imma wiegeb bis-sincerita.
Mario J Spiteri
Jan 27th, 22:29
Sur De Martino, l-ghajta qabel l-ahhar elezzjoni kienet maqsuma fi 2 - " flimkien kollox possibli" u "b'Gonzi mohhok mistrieh"
Veru flimkien kollox possibli ghalih u ta madwaru fil-partit u b'Gonzi mohhok mistrieh kienu l-ministri u l-kabinett ghax sallbu lilna biex sikru huma.
Din hi r-realta sur De Martino, jew qed takkwista biex tkun mohhok mistrieh?
Ahna akkwistajna kontijiet tad-dawl u l-ilma gholjin, gass gholi, hajja sploduta u pagi mizerja!!!!!!!!!!
Bilhaqq qalbu tajba ghax taghna €1.16c zieda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Giov DeMartino
Jan 28th, 12:14
Dolores Vassallo....ghadek ma wegibtx U anqas se twiegeb!
M Grima
Jan 27th, 17:05
To show us how his heart burns for his country and what a man of solid principles he is, Dr. Franco Debono quoted one of J.F. Kennedy's famous quotes, This man is drunk in his own ego because if he had one once of decency he would have desisted to copy this great man. And what about his much talked about principles which in my opinion are not even fit for the gutter. In the space of a few months this great lawyer, this prodigy, this man who thinks he is god's gift to the Maltese people where justice is concerned has made more u-turns than I can remember in a lifetime. Dr. Debono there is one important lesson you have to learn in politice, you have to put your money where your mouth is or to make it more simpler if you say something stick to it, otherwise you cannot expect to be taken seriously. Anyway, you have blown your chance and you can say bye, bye to your political ambitions. But, what is even worse is that the PL half of malta think that you just a 'pacpaci' and the other PN half will never ever trust you. Bye, Bye you were fun until it lasted.
Joseph Brincat
Jan 27th, 17:05
GONZI PN HANG ON TO POWER
WITH OUT MAJORITY FOR
34 - 34 = 00000000000000000000
WHO IS IN FAVOUR ??????????
John Borg
Jan 27th, 17:29
KMB favur ghax dak kien w ghadu l-ikbar Zero. Ma nafx kif Joseph ghadu ma gabux lura wkoll.... sakemm mhux diga qieghed hemm u staha jghidilna!
Joseph Brincat
Jan 27th, 17:46
John BORG
MELA GHANDNA TNEJN ZERO ISSA ,
KMB U GONZI PN > NO PROBLEM <
Joseph Sammut
Jan 27th, 16:57
Din ta li-speaker trid titranga w jnehhulu l-vot. Dan ghandu jkun biss l-amministratur tal-kamra w xejn izjed
Anthony Cassar
Jan 27th, 18:16
Mela naqbdu w nibdlu l-kostituzzjoni hekk ta malajr ghax ma gietx favur il-PL hux hekk ?
Fran Abela
Jan 27th, 16:50
To my mind the situation is this: Malta is not faring too badly under the circumstances prevailing in the world today. Why the rush to have early elections ? Cannot, in the name of our beloved mother country, we all wait another 14 months and then the elections will be duly held ? What is this mad rush ? Who stands to gain by all this continuous bickering by all parties ?. I am not saying that the present government is perfect, far from it but for goodness sake we ahould not invent more problems and let the country move ahead ? Can we not all put aside our personal aspirations/ambitions for the sake of the country. What harm can be done if we wait a few more months for the elections to be held on due date ? I would also appeal to the media to stop this continuous barrage of trying to give the impression that they know it all and through the comments they place on internet they are continuing to foment division in the country judging by certain remarks that they upload. Many Maltese people are really sick of all this bickerinig and it is affecting the country negatively. My appeal is also directed at the politicians to stop playing games with us and if need be, tell us what the real situation is and we can then judge for ourselves - we are not idiots to be played about just for the sake of some politicians' personal ambitions. I hope this appeal will not fall on deaf ears.
Anthony Fenech
Jan 27th, 16:45
GHAX GHANDNA LIL DUMINKU,KARMENU ALFRED JOSEPH MAGHNA AHNA MAQUDIN.WHO ELSE?
Thomas Mifsud
Jan 27th, 16:29
Due to his love for the PN party Franco Debono has let the Maltese down and kept us living under this arrogant government
U. D'Amico
Jan 27th, 16:52
issa meta tigi lelezzjoni, ivota lejber hux ;)
Robert Lewis
Jan 27th, 16:21
Nhar il hadd f'Haz Zebbug. M'ahniex sejrin naccettaw kondizzjonijiet minghand hadd, u ma nistawx naccettaw li s-soluzzjoni tinstab biss sa nhar il hamis. Irridu vot car li nibqghu mmexxu sa l-ahhar tal-legeslatura. Il bierah il hamis wara il vot. Dan kien vot car u ghalhekk sejrin inkomplu nigvernaw sa l-ahhar. Mela option one, jekk Dr Debono ivvota ma l-oppozzizjoni, il gvern kien imur ghand il President. Option two, jekk Dr Debono ivvota mal gvern, il gvern kien ikollu maggoranza assoluta u business as usual. Option three, Dr.Debono astjena, allura din ma tfissirx li is-soluzzjoni hija temporanja sal hamis biss f'gieh is sew. Bid diskors tieghu tal bierah Dr Gonzi qieghed jaghti wiehed x'jifhem li b'bicca deputat, kif qal Dr.Debono stess, bih u minghajru xorta immexxu.
U. D'Amico
Jan 27th, 16:08
@robert camilleri...
the constitution is clear, its 50% + 1 vote.. not +8000 vote.. thats a majority. the people's will at the last election was for a PN goverment, for 5 years, ending march 2013.
also the electoral system in malta makes you CHOOSE A PARTY but also lets you put PREFERENCE ON CANDIDATE. this means that the MPs lack of support does not mean lack of support from the voters.
until that time that a gov MP votes against the goverment on financial or confidence votes.. democracy allows any vote to fail on both sides without consitutional repercussions..
those who think that if the goverment looses a vote, it mean majority is lost, they have no idea how the parlament works. it might be a shock for some people put the opposition sometimes actualy votes WITH the goverment. does it mean the gov will have a super majority?
Andrew Siad
Jan 27th, 16:19
however the people doesnt elect a speaker
Alan Xuereb
Jan 27th, 16:30
@ Andrew Siad
Please note that it's not the first time that there was a casting vote by a speaker even when labour party was in power.
C Muscat
Jan 27th, 16:33
Andrew Said the constitution was always part of the game as long as it is respected whether in 1981 in 1998 and in 2012.
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 27th, 16:34
@Andrew.
Wrong, Mr. Speaker is the new prime minister for it's his votes that are keeping the present government going.
U. D'Amico
Jan 27th, 16:40
@no, they don't, but they give the power to the government to appoint a speaker of its trust. actually, at one point the speaker was also offered to the opposition, which refused to appoint a speaker of its trust..
and if you take the blind folds, you will see that the speaker voted in consistency, based on the fact that its vote will allow discussion to continue, and just just to vote with the gov side
U. D'Amico
Jan 27th, 16:43
@lawrence fenech
you are forgetting the fact that the motion was presented by the opposition. with or without the speaker vote, the motion would have failed, thus NOT confirming that the gov lost majority :)
B Borg
Jan 27th, 17:12
So U. D'Amico in your own words for a majority the constitution is clear, its 50% + 1 vote - therefore tell us what you think of the PN getting 49.3% of the votes in 2008
Andrew Siad
Jan 27th, 18:15
@U. D'Amico
"and if you take the blind folds, you will see that the speaker voted in consistency, based on the fact that its vote will allow discussion to continue, and just just to vote with the gov side"
its better you remove the blindfolds 1st. ma tridx ddahak al li jista jkun ux bhalxjn stennejt lil speaker jivota kontra imma mux favur GonziPN so as to "allow discussion to continue"
Alan Xuereb
Jan 27th, 18:23
@B Borg,
in simple words, its more than the labour achieved.
Mark Muscat
Jan 27th, 15:57
Daw x'ghaggla ghandhom tal-PL? Kulma qal Gonzi hu li la l-mozzjoni li tant kien cert li kien ser jirbah Joseph, ma ghadditx, il-gvern ghadu ma waqax. Gonzi ha jipprova jirranga l-affarijiet ma Franco Debono, jekk ma jirnexxielux ikollu jmur ghall-elezzjoni . . . . . . imma ghandu kull dritt jipprova jerga jirkupra lil dan id-deputat !!! Dear Joseph, ha jkollok tistenna naqra ohra, wara kollox taf x'jghidu, min jistenna jiterra
R. Cilia
Jan 27th, 16:13
Ghandek zball Mark, min jistenna jithenna.
Ryan Agius
Jan 27th, 17:03
hekk hu habib min jistenna jiterra bhal ma gralna ahna terejna u erilna l but nistenew lil dan l gvern jwarab min hemm. Ghalhekk ghandu l ghagla l partit labour ta siehbi ghax l poplu malti nfaqa jircivi l kontijiet ta dawl u ilma u taxxi zejda sabih bhal ma grali lum jien hadd l paga u ahjar ma taghni xejn zieda fil budgit li ghada ghax li tani haduli sewwa minn naha l ohra. Gvern tad- dahq ghana
Mr Ernest Vella
Jan 27th, 15:40
skont tal-labour, Gonzi m'ghamel xejn tajjeb f'dawn l-4 snin...assolutament xejn...MUR EMMINHOM hux...viva l-konferenza generali annwali...li probabli qeghda ttelfilhom elezzjoni wara l-ohra...bis-sriep...dna hazin...bijografija...in-nanna bl-inkwatru...mumenti kommoventi...u fl-ahhar Grac Borg li kienet hierga ma tal-lejber.
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 16:11
Le hi, kiser ir-records tad-dinja kollha; imma l-akbar record li kiser kien meta. minn wara daharna ha 500 ewro zieda, meta lilna, tana ewro u xi haga....biex ma nithanzrux!
Arsenio Ellul
Jan 27th, 16:35
Ejja nkunu naqra ragjonevoli, mela hawn xi Gvern kollox tajjeb jew kollox hazin!! Pero jien nahseb li jekk hawn il-gid qed jibqa l-fuq hafna mill-populin, ghax trid tkun veru thobb tissawwat jekk tghid li l-hajja m'gholietx hafna iktar milli gholiet il-paga!!! Ghallinqas jien hekk inhoss, forsi ghax naqlaghha w niekolha mhux inpappiha.
Josanne Cassar
Jan 27th, 16:44
xinti cool sur nestu :)
M.Dolores Vassallo
Jan 27th, 17:10
Tidher li qed tpappija tajjeb sur Vella.
J. Mifsud
Jan 27th, 15:32
The Prime Minister should resign, yesterday he lost his majority in parliament and outside. Since AD have asked for an election, the majority of the people now want an election. Were he addicted to power he would resign. This is not a democracy, PN are now doing what the MLP was doing in the 80s, governing against the wish of the majority.
Mark Muscat
Jan 27th, 16:00
tlett gimghat ilu Gonzi kien f'minoranza, issa gie fl-istess ilma ta Muscat, u sa hmistax ohra jerga jkun minn fuq, mela hudu naqra pacenzja u stennew naqra
Alan Xuereb
Jan 27th, 16:33
You're right, the gov had no majority, but neither the opposition has it.
Arsenio Ellul
Jan 27th, 16:40
@Muscat
Jekk Franco lest li jerga jappoggja lill-Prim iva ahna lesti nistennew mhux problema . Imma kemm hi kbira dik il-JEKK habib!!! Allura kif tista' tghid li Lawrence mhux ostagg ta Franco?? Kollox min Franco jiddependi mhux minn Lawrence
A. Xuereb
Jan 27th, 15:24
Who will be replacing Dr Austin Gatt when he leaves office to concentrate on the electoral campaign? Suggestions anyone? :-)))) What s the price of an abstentation ?
Andrew Siad
Jan 27th, 16:21
yeah anyone franco debono. ministru ta 6 xhur biss biex jalaqlu halqu forsi min jaf
C Muscat
Jan 27th, 16:32
Qed toghgobni l-idea. I think it is a good shot. Franco deserves that oscar.
R. Balzan
Jan 27th, 15:06
L-aktar frazi li tiddeskrivi tajjeb lil Dr Muscat u Dr Gonzi f'din il- kummedia-tragedja kollha nahseb kienet li filwaqt li wiehed jokrob ghall-poter, l-iehor ikkakmat mall-poter.
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 15:06
After the many records broken by the super cabinet at the super GonziPN, is Dr Gonzi going to break an other record: that of staying glued to the seat at Castille without a majority?
F. Agius
Jan 27th, 15:26
iridu jghaddu tmin xhur biex jikser ir-rekord .....
J.C. Borg
Jan 27th, 15:26
Pat, Had you been living in Malta in 1996-98 you would have written differently.
Robert Camilleri
Jan 27th, 15:41
in 96-98 pl won the election by 8000 votes not by 1500
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 16:08
I've lived here in 96 -98, but also in the 60s when the PN (-against all norms of decency, democracy, human rights, and corrupt practices,) ruled Malta for 10 whole years! Through the Church's interference in politics, the PN usurped the government,(against all norms of human rights and democracy) and glued itself to the seat at Auberge d'Aragon for two decades ! We have to hear of an apology from the PN!
In 1998 MLP resigned when it lost the vote of confidence...and immediately called the elections! Dr Alfred Sant is a man of honour and not a quacuaraqua!
J.C. Borg
Jan 27th, 17:09
@ Pat Muscat - Were you also here in 1981, when the MLP lost the election and went on governing till the last legal day?
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 17:50
I981, as far as I am concerned, was an anomaly, and it was rectified by both parties. The Constitution said seats were the most important, and both parties tried to use and abuse that constitution. Now, since then, its the votes that counts, and the constitution is not perfect because it still does not reflect the numerical votes. So, I think that Labour dragged its feet in 1981 to change the constitution and it ruled ( abusively?) for 5 years. But remember, earlier the PN ruled abusively against democracy for 10 years, so the score reads PN 10 years,PL 5 years, with the PN being the biggest culprit in the history of Maltese democracy!
NB. Not to mention the 30s moral sin tragedy which was used against the MLP and Strickland with the protagonist (PN ) ruling abusively again because of undemocratic elections!
Arsenio Ellul
Jan 27th, 15:06
Debono shows he is smarter then many people think, he put the ball in the Prime Minister's court now!!!
What next?? Now the Opposition must stop for a while to check stability in a few weeks time, give enough chance to Gonzi to put his house in order. If after a month or two it's still in shambles like it is today, it would be better for all to go for election.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jan 27th, 15:05
Could someone kindly clarify my doubts
1) as to why the motion of No Confidence was proposed by Anglu Farrugia and seconded by Joe Mizzi and during the debate, the proponent Anglu Farrugia did not utter one word in this debate; on the contrary, Joseph Muscat was the only speaker – Why?
2) Is it possible that this motion of No Confidence was presented without the knowledge and approval of the Leader Joseph Muscat, which was hurriedly presented to the Speaker,
a) so as the proponent could out-jump his leader; or
b) is it because Joseph Muscat did not want his signature on this motion, so as in case of its defeat, this defeat would not be attributed to him?
Many observers in the political scene are questioning the above and many are of the opinion that there is more than meets the eye!
We urgently need some clarifications re: the above, please!
Thanks.
JC.
Arsenio Ellul
Jan 27th, 15:10
Ikolli nghid li smajt radio 101 il-bierah ghax l-istess kliem qal Tonio Borg. Veru Originali eh!!!!!
Arsenio Ellul
Jan 27th, 15:13
Do you really believe what you wrote?? Stop watching CSI and James Bond films please.
Joe E Galea
Jan 27th, 15:35
JCS: Since when have you become a transcript writer of NET TV?
Andrew Siad
Jan 27th, 16:25
instead of pappagalling your dear minister you had better hear joseph muscat say that he shouldered the responsibilty for the no confidence vote altough it was presented by a farrugia.
i think you should move the frequency to other radio stations and dont let it stuck on 101. same applies for the tv controller which has learnt the NET radio station by heart
Joseph Grech Attard
Jan 27th, 14:54
And the pre-meditated farce goes on, to the detriment of our highest institution - parliament! It seems that stability can only come about either by a general election or if the PM resigns, Debono changes colour from a black sheep to another colour, and he returns to the fold. And we continue sinking, together with Europe, where money was supposed to be no problem. What a foresight!!
susan matrenza
Jan 27th, 14:53
thanks god ghadda kollox
qed nghid thanks god ghax issa Dr Gonzi jried ixxammar il kmiem u jmexxi dal pajjiz b dan il hassle kollhu . Mur oqoghod bi nazzjonalisti u jkollhu jitla il labour u nkunu fn ofs krizi . Kieku zgur li nispiccaw inwahhlu li dil krizi inqalat mill partit laburista .
issa ha naraw il kapacita tal prim kemm twassal halli issa wara li jikkonvinci ruhu li ghandu problema fil pajjiz irried ixxammar il kmiem u jghid lil poplu kif ha johrog il pajjiz min din il krizi
prim lewwel mghandek taghmel hija haga : tikkonvinci lilek innifsek li ghandek problema bi nies ta madwarek
ronald ciscaldi
Jan 27th, 14:47
Gonzi qed jaghmel ezatt bhall istorja tal hmar . Qed ikanta vittorja meta fil fond ta qalbu jaf li ghandu inkwiet serju . Jigri x jigri jidher li dal pajjiz riesaq lejn krizi finanzjarja akbar u bdan il hassle li ghandu gol partit zgur li xi hin jew iehor il bomba ha terga tfaqqa .
Jien ma nistax nimmagina kif nhar il hadd ha jmur jippopa sidru fil konferenza generali u ha jispjega lil shabu li huma back benchers imma mhux ribelli u jfemom li issa il franco gabuh fejn riedu . Kieku jien backbencher bhalom inhosni maqtugh mill partit ghax issa qed jidher bi car li ghax wiehed jaqla panic jilaquh min fuq sisfel u jweduh id dinja u iehor li qad kiwet u ma fetahx halqu titrattah ta imbecili .
ronald ciscaldi
Jan 27th, 14:43
wara dal panic kollhu li nqala gol pajjiz hargu giex fatturi importanti li l poplu ra b ghajnejh
1) Li il partit nazzjonalista jinsab f bicciet u li iktar mohhom biex idewwu il feriti milli biex jippjanaw ghall futur . Zgur li b dan ir rizultat ma ghandomx ghalfejn isserhu mohhom ghax zgur li hemm hafna inkwet bejn il gruppi principali li jmexxu il partit
2) Li l partit laburista jidher li ha jkollhu grupp ta kandidati godda u b sahhtu li thanks to the leader irnexxilu jigbed mieghu ftit min nies li huma kapacissimi fl oqsma taghhom . Seeing all those new faces in maltese politics shows clearly that the new leadership in the PL is doing her homework really good .
dall vot inqala out of the blues so this count relatively nothing , only to damage the party in government .
Maggoranza jew mhux maggoranza il poplu qed jirrejalizza li its time up for the PN to be in power for much longer .
Rodnick Abdilla
Jan 27th, 14:42
Aktar ma jistinka biex jibqa hemm il Primnistru iktar qed jghamel hsara lil partit, priministru responsabli jarraf li il magoranza ma ghadiex fi hdan il partit tieghu u jaqbad u immur ghand il president, ma nafx ghala qed jibza ghax skond huwa tant gab records li m anafx kif ma gabuhx fil book of records
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Jan 27th, 14:38
We now have a worse situation than Russia and GonziPN has a far more worse situation than Putin. The only way is General Elections. And please stop all this non sense of "Coalition". there is no coalition as this means that both parties will govern and everyone knows that GonziPN is governing with the help of the "Speaker" and for sure this is no coalition. This is purely obsession to stick to power even without a mojority of seats and VOTES.
John Scerri
Jan 27th, 14:37
The way I see it is that
1 :The only manner in which Dr.Debono could actually and in a tangible manner give a shake to his own party ...the party he loves ...and I understand him 100% was to make it public .
2.The opposition took it that there is a split within the party and it was time to play the Jolly.
3. Dr.Debono will never betray his party and go with MLP....He wants things to be done properly .
4. The PM need to put his house in order .
5. Remove the cobwebs which have been there for too long ....
6. Alas the chance of an early election would have gathered some sympathy votes but now it's back to square one where ..if government will not take heed of what Dr.Debono stated in public and what other MPs staed in private ...the party will for sure be en route to the opposition benches.
7. MLP ...stated why it move a motion of no confidence ....sort of repetition of the budget speech.
8. If MLP and i do not mean only Dr.Muscat will not make haste to issue the solutions to the many issues mentioned , the public will have no option but to reason ...better the devil you know .
peter Bongailas
Jan 27th, 14:36
Fdan il mument il partit nazzjonalista jinsab u kuntent u qed ihoss li hu rebbieh
Rebbieh ta xix ? Suppost lanqas biss kellha tinqala din il kwistjoni ghax gvern ghandu jkollhu fiducja tal kandidati li qeghdin jirraprezentawh tul il hames snin kollha .
Rebbieh ta xix ? Thossok rebbieh fuq krizi li hloqt int stess
Rebbieh ta xix ? talli kellek wiehed mid deputati tieghek li hareg jikxiflek lghawwar u qal id dinja kollha li int l partit imexxi min kliekek u dawn il klikek wara dan ir rizultat aktar qeghdin ihossuwom b sahhitom ghax regat ghaddiet taghhom
Rebbieh ta xix ? talli rega il priministru beza jmur ghand il poplu ghax jaf li lpoplu ha jghidlu inzel min hemm ghax issa too much
JIEN NAHSEB LI L PN MGHANDUX IHOSSU REBBIEGH GHAX KIF JGHIDU BIT TALJAN - TARDARE SI MA SCAPPARE MAI !!!
Albert Farrugia
Jan 27th, 14:34
Calling Franco Debono, calling Franco Debono! Funny, but the outspoken young lawyer has suddenly gone very quiet in the last 24 hours. X'gej jaqaw? Well, he used to say that the GonziPN system has evil elements. Could it be.......?
Lawrence Fenech
Jan 27th, 14:33
Dr. Franco with one stroke managed to disappoint the GonziPN and the LP both at the same time, karambola.
C. Vella
Jan 27th, 14:24
Mela fl-loghoba futbol kien hemm 2 timijiet, wiehed gear ahmar u iehor blu u ir refferee gear transparenti (suppost). Kif kienet ser tispicca il-loghoba, bl-iskor 34 - 34, il-homor kienu ser jiskurjaw fil-lasta tal-blu imma mar barra. Ir-refferee minflok ghajjat ghal penelties qabad il-ballun u tefghaw gol lasta tal-homor ghax hekk derlu kellha tispicca il-loghoba u qal li il-loghoba intrebhet mil blu. Mela allura il-loghoba teknikament spiccat draw u iktar gowls ta'vera irid ikun hemm biex tassigura min vera rebah. Wara dan kollu jien nghid illi xi haga min wara il-kwinti ghaddeja fost il-PN. Ma ninsewx li wiehed mil-ministri li tkellem Franco fuqhom ga ghandu xoghol iehor u qal li mhux hiereg ghal l-elezjoni li jmiss. Tghid imur Franco minfloku fil-parlament? Insomma loghoba chess mil Prim gejja din. Jien kont wiehed li kont qed nammira il-mod kif kien qed jitkellem Franco ghax min jghamel il-hazin ghandu ikun responsabli, kemm blu u kemm ahmar imma tal-bierah ura bic-car li skop wiehed kien hemm + li tastjeni min vot turi li int bla opinjoni, bla direzjoni u mitluf; allura kif tista tiehu decizjoni tajjba ghal poplu Franco?
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 14:59
Sorry, but I cannot help it... you are so stupid, and have no idea what a CONSTITUTION is!
Zagroma Savrene
Jan 27th, 15:01
If a ball goes out, it's a goal kick and the referee cannot put the ball into the back of the net because it still won't count. Your scenario is not only mundane but also void.
C. Vella
Jan 27th, 20:04
@ Charles Vella: Il-Kostituzjoni tghid illi min ghandu il-magoranza tas siggijiet jigverna. F'dal kas taf illi-l-ispeaker suppost newtrali imma hawn Malta dan qatt ma kien. L-ispeaker dejjem favur il -gvern ivotta u appati min hekk dan iffisser li il-gvern ikollu 2 siggijiet vantagg? Jew inkella ahjar min hekk kif ifalli naqa, il-gvern jaf li ghandu it-tyre spare? l-MLP ghamel hazin fit-80ijiet u b'hekk kienu bidlu kif jinataw is-siggijiet. Xorta jibqa il-fatt li il-gvern prezenti tilef l-unika siggu li kien direttament jghajjat lilu.
@Zagroma Savrene: If did not notice it was just a figure of speech, however my mistake was that I did not point out that the refferee put the ball in the net as the game was going to finish not after it went out.
John Said
Jan 27th, 14:23
What is the hurry with you lot to go for an election? If the present government is doing so bad, the longer he stays in power, the more votes he will lose. Every body knows that the world economic situation is worsening, and that 2012 will be even mord hard than the 2011, or is it that you are afraid that the government is right!
Nicholas Borg
Jan 27th, 14:22
The post from PL supporters are unbelievable. Suddenly they are all professors of democracy. They conveniently forget how their party ruled for 6 years when it did not have the majority of the electorate behind it. They forget that Alfred Sant's government survived for months with the Speaker's casting vote.
The truth is that this government has a mandate from the people to govern for 5 years. For that mandate to end it needs to be DEFEATED in a confidence vote, something that has not yet happened. So it has every right to carry on with its mandate. If the PM believes it is better for the country to call an early election, he will do so, but that is his call and not that of the PL.
Daniel Dimech
Jan 27th, 14:43
tinsiex li dan gvern relattiv u bla maggoranza parlamentari..... l ispeaker messu ma ndahal xejn fiha din il haga ghax dak bniedem mhux elett mill poplu...
JC Sullivan
Jan 27th, 14:57
Confidence votes are under usual circumstances Financial unless the Prime Minister considers the vote one of non-confidence as did the Rt. Hon Alfred Sant in 1996.
And, even if the party in Government looses it's majority of seats, it doesn't mean a election will be called. Constitutionally, can't the Head of State i.e. The President ask the opposition to form a government?
John Said
Jan 27th, 16:02
@ Mr. Dimech- For the PL motion to be approved it needed 35 votes, but it just got 34, so it was not approved. The speaker, who is not elected by the voters has the responsability to use his vote in such a way that he allows further discussion and not make a decision him self. Every one is forgetting that the government had offered the PL to choose the speaker it self, but Dr. Muscat refused.
@ Mr. Sullivan - if the motion was approved, the president could have asked an other member of the government to form a new cabinet, but not from the opposition according to the constitution of Malta. This is due to the fact that until other wise proven, i.e. by an election, its the PN who was democraticly elected to govern Malta.
F. Pisani
Jan 27th, 14:12
Dalle stelle alle' stalle, in other words, from the havens to the stables is that what you mean MLP supporters about Franco Debono. As usual if something is no longer usable you throw it away, like for example Mintoff, Lino Spiteri etc etc.
Andrew Siad
Jan 27th, 14:44
like john dalli lous galea jpo jesmond mugliett john bundy stagno navarro and soon debono...........
A Dimech
Jan 27th, 14:12
Gonzi will keep Malta in suspense - because waht matters most is his party, not the people
pat muscat
Jan 27th, 14:02
It is in these difficult times that real leaders show their democratic credential and their mettle; if Gonzi proscrastinates in clearing the waters, not only Malta will loose, but even his party in the long run.
Toni Borg
Jan 27th, 14:26
Gonzi will clear the waters, if only the Oppostion stops playing dirty tricks to get the water murky again.
E Gatt
Jan 27th, 13:59
If a political storm is brewing, let’s enjoy the calm – for another year - before it actually comes.
j brincat
Jan 27th, 13:52
"While the Prime Ministers aid after the vote that the opposition's motion lacked Parliament's support"
Yesterday, we saw another (in a series) U turn by the PM. He once again changed the goalposts to the categoric stand he took last Sunday.
But then, it seems that principles come and go as long that the glorious seat of power is still at hand!
(jb)
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 14:16
You can talk!! What about your Joseph Muscat?! He wan'ts to become Prime Minister without one idea of how to lead the country! Just for his own prestige!
For you, this is just a game of football! To me, it's not! If JM is Prime Minister, my job, my life, my wellbeing will be at stake!
No to JM! No to his lies... waqa ghan nejk il bierah wara li ma ghaddiex il vot ta sfiducja! Naturalment, vot ghal xejn... ghax pajjizna mhux f'ricessjoni, ghanda l'anqas rata ta nies bla xoghol fl'Ewropa, l'investiment ghaddejj, progetti madwar Malta kollha sabiex ghada nqumu u nsibu Malta isbah u ahjar...
Joseph Muscat and Labour have NO idea! Darba BISSSSS ivvotajt Labour, fl'1996... u ma tergax tkun ghax ingdimt bil KBIR!
A Tonna
Jan 27th, 13:50
Fl-artiklu t'hawn fuq ma jissemmewx Joseph u l-PL. Kif fit-tahwid li hemm fil-PN tridu iddahhlu lill-Joseph ukoll. Mela veru m'ghandkhomx xi tghidu! Ma tridux tghidu dak li qal Franco Debono mhuhiex minnhu wkoll hux?
Michael Magri
Jan 27th, 13:48
Il-pozizzjoni kif narha jiena hijja hekk:-
Qabel il-votazzjoni ta sfiducja = PN 35 - PL 34
Wara r-rizultat tal-votazzjoni = PN 34 - PL 34 - PNPL(?) 1 (Debono Irrezenja mil-PN ukoll)
Hadd Ma Jista Jghid Li Ghandu l-Maggoranza Parlamentari ghax il-vot ta li Speaker ma jghoddx bhal dak ta membru parlamentari, ghax mhux imtella bil-vot tal-poplu = Allura Elezzjoni fil qrib hijja eminenti... Period..
OMAR SAMMUT
Jan 27th, 13:46
ma ninsewx lil dak l-imbierek speaker li ghal darbohra rega salva is-sitwazzjoni in extremis.proset u viva id-demokrazija.
joe vella
Jan 27th, 13:45
If franco has resigned from the PN, and there is no reason to disbelieve him, then how come the PM said that he needed to regularise the situation in his party to bring everybody in line
if franco is no longer a PN member then the PM cannot rein him in, at least if he doesn't do a u -turn
It may mean that the PM wants to make sure that other potential dissidents in his group do not decide to follow franco's behaviour
as for franco himself, he made it very clear that he does not want to bring the government down, he has had his day, purged his stomach so now what, keep up the pressure or perhaps the PM comes out with a carrot or two to keep him occupied and quiet for the next 14months?
j brincat
Jan 27th, 13:43
"Yesterday's vote in Parliament did not see the government lose its majority but the opposition's no confidence motion was only defeated with the Speaker's casting vote"
And I ask: What kind of majority does the government have if it did not lose the majority yesterday? According one strange 'theory' thrown today, we now have a coalition government!
Do we really?
Tell me another!
(jb)
S Grech
Jan 27th, 13:41
L'storja hija din:- Franco Debono jaqla dan l- argument kollu ghax kien irrabjat li il- Prim Ministru ma tahx il- Ministeru li xtaq...qal ghal elf darba f' hafna programmi televizivi differenti illi ser jivvota kontra u li lest li jwaqqa il- Gvern...Kif ra hekk Joseph Muscat raq xaqq ta dawl (u kien ukoll fl'obbligu) u sejjah vot ta sfiducja fil- Gvern. Il- Prim Ministru OVVJAMENT ma qabillux jiehu dan il- vot meta talbu jaghmlu Joseph Muscat ghaliex kien cert min kliem Franco Debono li dan kien se jitilfu...Baqa jgedded iz- zmien sakemm ra kif ghamel sabiex immanipola lil Franco Debono (min jaf x'wehdu) u dan beda irattab qalbu sakemm il- verzoni tieghu imbiddlet milli iwaqqa il- gvern ghal li jastjeni. Hu kien jaf ezatt illi b'hekk, la kien se jaghti sodisfazzjoni lil Joseph Muscat u l'anqas jaqa ghac- cajt mal- poplu u jivvota favur il- Gvern wara dak il genn kollu li qala. Issa il- quddiem forsi tohrog il- verita kolla ta kif biddel fehmtu (forsi meta jkollu xi ministeru). Jien ghalijja il- manuvra tieghu kienet wahda suicidal ghaliex issa min se jafdah?? L'oppozijjoni (MA NAHSIBX)?? Shabu in- Nazzjonalisti (wara li waqqahom ghar- ridkolu)?? Il- Votanti Nazzjonalisti (li tilfu kull fiducja li kellhom fih)?? Ma nafx jien, pero wara li kisser Malta b'hafna paroli fil- vojt u poggiena f'instabbilta inkredibbli ma nahsibx li ghamel sew u astjena flok ha decizjoni. Wara dan- kollu nahseb li il- poplu kien haqqu jkun jaf il- posizzjoni tieghu..... U issa kif se naghmlu?? Se nibqghu ghaddejjin qisu qatt ma kien xejn? Se nibqghu nghaddu kollox bil- vot tas- salvazzjoni tal- ispeaker? L'anqas jista jkollu ministru jew membru ma jiftlahx il- Gvern jew imsiefer meta jigi biex jghaddi ligi jew jiehu vot fil- parlament, ghax ma jkunx fil- maggoranza. L'unika haga tajba ghal Malta (u la ghal Labour u l'anqas ghan Nazzjonalisti imma ghalina il- Maltin) kienet illi ilbierah Dr. Gonzi johrog ta ragel billi jsejjah elezzjoni u jara il poplu ghandux fiducja fih. Tista terga tigih tajba u tista tigih hazina imma tal- inqas ahna bhala poplu ikun haqqna nghidu taghna ukoll u Dr. Gonzi ikun jaf ezatt fejn qied. Din il- haga imissu ilu li ghamila min meta ma gabx il- maggoranza fuq il- vot tad-divorzju mhux kollox baqa mixi qisu qatt ma kien xejn u viva l- ligijiet tad-demokrazija. Nahseb li komdu wisq is-siggu tal- poter u ic- cek tal- paga u kulhadd jibza li jitilfu, mhux hekk?
Jien ma nitkellemx biex niffavorixxi lil ebda partit imma nitkellem u nghid l' affarijiet kif inhuma bla kantunieri bhala cittadina Maltija.
J Demicoli
Jan 27th, 13:37
There was once this man who was constantly showing signs of exhaustion and fatigue. He never seemed to admit it but it was clear that his health was regressing by the hour and his days were numbered before what could be his sudden death.
Despite his protests and opposition, his family around him wanted to get a bill of health for their beloved father.
Despite certifying him terminally ill the doctor stopped short of saying the man would better think of giving a good handing over as he was no longer fit to do his business.
Being naïve as he was, the man took this to mean a clear bill of health and immediately scoffed his family for ever think that he was even sick. Soon he was on his way to another holiday which left his family wondering ……..
Keep it up Franco, you showed everybody that your bill of health of the party in government is written on the wall for those who have the courage to read it!!
Joe Busuttil
Jan 27th, 13:36
Franco,you said that you have great love for your country.Then why did you not rid us of those who,according to you, are ruining the country and are firmly stuck to their seat in Parliament? Doesn't make sense ,does it? And if you have any self pride,(and you seem to have a lot),how can you go back to those who ridiculed you,lied about you,called you a madman, fooled you a couple of times at least ,and you know what else? And ,all this from non performing ministers and MPs and their retainers,not from what some bloggers call 'hamalli Laburisti.'
J Drury
Jan 27th, 13:33
I pity all the comments from labour supporters below... For another time (lost the count, lol) you were all so close but yet so far.....
Jonathan Zammit Lapira
Jan 27th, 14:31
Sur Drury, the race has still to start. So we'll talk in June 2012.
Charles Bayliss
Jan 27th, 13:24
It seems that although Franco Debono had the courage to come out against the atrocities of this Government, there are a number of Nationalist MPs who have their doubt. For instance, there is an article by a PN MP on the Malta Independent today which gives me food for thought. There are Nationalist MPs that under cover grumble that the PM is not delivering but still they do nothing. If these MPs have the courage to speak up. They will be saving the Nationalist Party from an ever growing Land Slide Defeat. Could be the worse in over 100 years of Nationalist History.
Hossam Helwani
Jan 27th, 14:08
@ charles bayliss dream on !!!! 100 years of history indeed, never in our history of accomplishment did Malta fare so well in the international arena.
You must be wearing glasses made of concrete to be so blind! I cant believe that Maltese can be so destructive to a government who has seen them through the most difficult times.
People like you are making readers laugh when they read your imaginary crisis.
your comment ammounts to a total waste of space and time.
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 14:21
...not just that, but the lowest rate of unemployment in the EU... We have a good life style compared to other EU countries, economy is doing well, projects for a better Malta all around us... etc etc
Labour has been sitting like a duck for 25 years, and they are taking this Debono opportunity - However it failed big time as the motion failed to pass!
Labour's grasp for power is now evident... in reality there is no crisis in Malta. The only crisis is being caused by Franco because he wasn't appointed minister (sour grapes) and because the PN are sort of hanging with just one seat, the PL are taking the opportunity to topple down the PN government...
Naturally, UNSUCCESSFUL! God forbid Labour will every be in government... if so, with all the bad desitions and lack of experience Malta will have to join the list with Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal. ...that is reality!
silvio loporto
Jan 27th, 13:22
Franco, CHI PAGA ?/
Joseph Borg
Jan 27th, 13:19
Dr Debono, and I have stated this many times, should have done this over the bwsc scandal or the freeport extension. This is no surprise - he first states that Dr Gonzi can call an election in March and then gives him a lifeline.
What is important, and the political parties should be cautious at this stage, is that tension is building up. We have the us and them attitude very common in the late 80s because we have been in general election mode for many months, if not years. So it should be either back to business, and see you in 14 months or general election now, because the tension build up is huge.
Giovanni Rizzo
Jan 27th, 13:17
Ghamilt bhal Pilatu Dr.DeBono.
MD Fenech
Jan 27th, 13:16
Dr Debono had said that he had resigned from the PN as a measure of last resort because his constant calls for things to change were not being heeded.
La l-PN, la l-PM, la l-LP u l-anqas l-AD m'huma qed jiehduk bis-serjeta, ghax il-bierah urejtna li int paroli si fatti no.
There's only one way for you, resign from the party and from Parliament. You would be doing a favour to our party and our country.
godwin difesa
Jan 27th, 13:14
There was no doubt that Franco was going to abstain from voting.He is stubborn but not that much that for all coast would put Malta into deep problems.What Next? that what the people are asking.Half of the problem is over now as at first Franco sad he is going to vote with the opposition now he abstain.In my opinion Franco should attend the general council on Sunday because it is there he should shout and loudly his preoccupations about all the matters he had been voicing in public for some years.Pieta is the place where you can re conciliate with your political family as the father of this family had sad many times in public that the door will remain always open but you have arrange the attitude how you should es-prime your self because you have the arguments all on your side as many of your colleges had already sad in pubic as well the PM.I no you have guts as i no you personally so reunite with PN family because that is where you belong.Many words had been sad from bought sides so it is even but at least the leader had always spoken without harming no one as he is the real father of the PN family.
Anthony Castillo
Jan 27th, 13:55
This is the BEST you could call it a comment or an advise that somebody could give where I agree with100%. It is through that it would be a waste that a profestional and a political man like you would be lost from the political arena and also I think that it would be a very smart move that you should attend the general council on Sunday, the right place where you could deliver you message freely because as you know this is the place where you belong and as our Primeminister said he is always ready to hear and the door is always OPEN. It would be very nice if we see you there.
j brincat
Jan 27th, 13:56
??????
Cannot understand!
(jb)
C Muscat
Jan 27th, 13:09
x'tahwid man.. No confidence ma jghaddix u nhalltuh mal-magoranza!!! Darba ghoddejna dawk li ma vvutawx ma dawk li ivvutaw le u illum qed nghoddu dak li ma vvutax ma dawk li vvotaw iva.....
Nigu ghat-test tal maggoranza.... l-ahhar vot ta maggoranza l-PN rebhu.
L-akbar froga meta qal li fil-1981 il-PL ghamel zball li zamm mal-kostituzzjoni!!! Ghageb tal- ghogbijiet Joseph jaf izjed minn dak iz-zmien tal-1981. Jekk xi hadd kien hazin dak iz-zmien kien min ma riedx jaqghod gal ki tghid il-kostituzzjoni ghax b li stess ragunar b'elf u hames mitt vot anqas messu ma accettax it-tlett siggijiet zejda...mhux fejn irridu nimxu mal-kostituzzjoni u fejn irridu nghidu min ghamel li zball.
Hallina nghixu Joseph...kellek bzonn xi darba tkun fil-gvern u tkun kapaci taghmel nofs li ghamel il-PL ta qablek!!!
C Muscat
Jan 27th, 13:09
x'tahwid man.. No confidence ma jghaddix u nhalltuh mal-magoranza!!! Darba ghoddejna dawk li ma vvutawx ma dawk li ivvutaw le u illum qed nghoddu dak li ma vvutax ma dawk li vvotaw iva.....
Nigu ghat-test tal maggoranza.... l-ahhar vot ta maggoranza l-PN rebhu.
L-akbar froga meta qal li fil-1981 il-PL ghamel zball li zamm mal-kostituzzjoni!!! Ghageb tal- ghogbijiet Joseph jaf izjed minn dak iz-zmien tal-1981. Jekk xi hadd kien hazin dak iz-zmien kien min ma riedx jaqghod gal ki tghid il-kostituzzjoni ghax b li stess ragunar b'elf u hames mitt vot anqas messu ma accettax it-tlett siggijiet zejda...mhux fejn irridu nimxu mal-kostituzzjoni u fejn irridu nghidu min ghamel li zball.
Hallina nghixu Joseph...kellek bzonn xi darba tkun fil-gvern u tkun kapaci taghmel nofs li ghamel il-PL ta qablek!!!
Wilfred Camilleri
Jan 27th, 13:07
It's become boring reading all the comments from PL supporters about how Gonzi lost his majority ad should therefore call an early election. Get over it already. You' re not going to change anyone's mind regardles of how many times you repeat Muscat's mantra for an early election!
Joseph Borg
Jan 27th, 13:24
So, if I understand you well it should be government - Dr Debono + Speaker from now on. And this, in your opinion is a good way to run a country in 'these turbulent times'. There will be an early election - as soon as the PN is ready for it. Because it is NEVER the national interest that counts.
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 14:29
mate... these 'these turbulent times' where only created by the PL and Debono... there is no turbulance in our economy, jobs, living lifestyle, projects are going on all around, and on schedule and on budget etc etc ! GET REAL! 'these turbulent times' are created by JM to topple the government because he knows of his 1 seat majority! Nothing else!
Joseph Muscat doesn't inspire me or attract me AT all to vote Labour! NO WAY!
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jan 27th, 14:30
The comments might not change anybody's mind - but Dr Debono may one day soon change his mind and start voting against GonziPN. Parliament is sitting in a time-bomb.
Joseph Borg
Jan 27th, 14:53
Mr Vella, it is the aspiration of every opposition to be in the government, so let us not expect something different from the one that we have. It is Dr Gonzi who is resorting to this phrase every day, and not because of Muscat but because of the financial situation. He was saying it even when he still enjoyed the 500 Euro increment that he gave himself. I so not vote on attraction basis, but on common sense. I see what this government has done for me. I live in a part of the island where cancerous PM2.5 particles are 500% more than the EU threshold - what has the PN and Dr Debono done for me. A Heavy fuel oil power station! I am real, now you can discuss attraction principles, I talk about health.
Wilfred Camilleri
Jan 27th, 17:15
Andrew Camilleri: And one day soon, pigs may fly!
Joseph Brincat
Jan 27th, 13:06
ARTIFICIAL MAJORITY
THE REALITY IS 34 BY 34
Charles Bayliss
Jan 27th, 13:26
Status Quo in Parliament. Yes Gonzi can officialy stay as Primer Minister for the next 15 months, but what about Parliamentary work. Will important laws (budget etc) be brought to the chambers or will it be a Parliament of Puppets paid by the taxes of the people?
Vincent Galea
Jan 27th, 12:57
A recent U.S study published last week revealed that our inflated ego and thinking " I know that I'm good because everybody keeps telling me so. " and " If I ruled the world, it would be a better place." does not just make others sick of you,it can make you ill.
Narcissistic men may be paying a high price, continues the study,in terms of their physical health, in addition to the psychological cost of their relationships.
Franco, take care.
Victor Vella
Jan 27th, 12:57
In my opinion Franco Debono can still give his valuable talents to support Justice and Democracy. There are ways and means. Not to be taken badly I`m not saying that Debono crosses the floor. Far from that. First of all he cannot do such as thing because he will find the GONZI PN Regime Marmarlja ready for him. Debono can still gain followers by creating a pressure group to materialize his vision, mission and objectives. To continue forward Justice and democracy, Franco`s sacrifices will be wasted if he gives up what he believes in. The Gonzi PN regime is only showing the world how artificially and economically strong we are while Justice and Democracy are at stake. Gonzi is hiding behind a smokescreen by making use of an evil oligarchy of people like a Mafia style type of a virtual government.
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 27th, 12:54
69 MPs. Government side 34,Opposition 35. Where is the Government majority?
Adrian Gouder
Jan 27th, 13:05
Just a note: 34 votes for, 34 against, and 1 abstained. The Government majority came from the speaker.
Emmanuel Caruana
Jan 27th, 13:09
Ghal li jista jkun int teacher tal-matematika ?
George Cauchi
Jan 27th, 14:36
The argument should be that although the motion of no confidence did not go through the Government had lost its majority and therefore the Prime Minister should have gone to the President and decide the way forward. By the way, there are 70 members in the House and not 69.
Charles Busuttil
Jan 27th, 18:28
@ George Cauchi
Mr. Cauchi there are 69 ELECTED members in the House. The Speaker is a non-elected member, in fact he does not have a vote and in normal circumstances he does NOT vote.
Jay Aquilina
Jan 27th, 12:51
Franco Debono qal repetutament li tlifna id-demokrazija, li ghadna Gvern tal-klikek, li taht gonzi ma jahdimx anzi talbu jirrezenja u elf haga ohra li l-Gvern qed jaghmel hazin. Tant qal kontra t-tmexija ta' Gonzi li ma nistax niftakarhom kollha. Mela fl'opinjoni tieghi Dr. Franco Debono hu komnplici ma min mhux demokratiku meta flok ivvota favur il-mozjoni u temm dan l-abbuz, hasel idejh u gie jaqa u jqum mil-verita. Hu ghar mil-bqija tad-deputati Nazjonalisti, ghax ghalmenu dawn jew ghadhom ma indunawx bit-tmexija hazina tal-Gvern jew ma ghammetewx jew jaqblu maghha. Ma tistax tghid dan kollu lil-poplu imbaghad tahsel idejk. Hadd mu ser jaghti kaz aktar ta' Dr. Debono. Mhux veru jhobb il-pajjiz izda anke hu jried jibqa iggranfat mas-siggu u salarju komdu
R. Borg
Jan 27th, 13:21
Forsi irrid jithol fil klikka issa.
Franco Debono = parole parole parole. He is responsable of the unnessary time waste he caused.
Antoine Psaila
Jan 27th, 12:43
Toqghodx tisthi tighdilhom Gonz ta nhar it-tnejn li int tlift il maggoranza fil parlament u salvajt bil vot ta l-ispeaker li mhuwiex elett mill poplu.
Charles Massa
Jan 27th, 12:42
Debono pacpac hafna u ghamel U Turn. Nahseb li dalwaqt narawh ministru. Nahseb li Austin Gatt jirrizanja biex imur jipprepara ghal kampanja elettorali u floku isir Franco Debono.
M Muscat
Jan 27th, 12:38
U hekk hu, il-GVERN tilef il-maggoranzza. La gew 34 - 34 hadd minnhom m'ghandu l-maggoranzza, INDAQS!!!
Charles Bayliss
Jan 27th, 13:28
Imissu gawn il-15-il xahar jaghmlu Gvern ta' Koalizzjoni fejn Gonzi jibqa' PM u Muscat isir il-Vici, bhal l-Ingilterra.
Joseph Cauchi Senior
Jan 27th, 12:35
Yesterday, Franco Debono declared in Parliament that by his vote of abstention, he was ready to ‘sacrifice’ his (young) political career for what he believes in.
This is somewhat admirable for a young aspiring politician to take such a step.
However, one begs the question, what would Franco Debono had done if he had to be a Labour member of parliament in the years 1981-87, as compared to the years of 2008-12?
Would he have done a JAN PALACH then; perhaps?
JC.
albert galea
Jan 27th, 12:47
Dr. Debono do not really beleive in what he said. He knew that by abstaining nothing will change. Gonzi and his 'klikka' will still govern. Dr. Debono has very nice words, but no action.
George Azzopardi
Jan 27th, 12:35
Dr.Debono - ‘I’ll support anyone except PM Gonzi’
What made this change in heart!! We all wonder!
Charles Sammut
Jan 27th, 13:04
threats by gonzipn and his cohorts!!!!
Tony Busuttil
Jan 27th, 13:15
he is a lawyer...............it says it all
S. Caruana
Jan 27th, 12:25
Dr.Debono ghalkemm astjenejt u ma vvutajtc kontra, xorta ghandi amirazzjoni lejn dak kollu li ghidt u ghamilt minkejja it- tehdid u dak kollu li kellek tiffacja.Nifhem ukoll li ma kienet xejn faccli ghal kwalunkwe individwu li jgorr dik il-pressure kollha wahdu u bid-deccizjoni tieghu jwaqqa Gvern, PERO nifhem ukoll li bid-deccizjoni tieghek li tasstjeni baght messag car lil minn veru jrid jara l-affarijiet minghajr mamghad quddiem ghajneh li dan il-Gvern m' ghadx fadallu maggoranza.Wiehed irrid izomm quddiem ghajnejh li l-PN lanqas maggoranza assoluta ma kellu issa tilef ukoll dik relativa.......nisperaw mhux se jitlef ukoll l-akbar valur.... dak tad-DEMOKRAZZIJA.
vincent a galea
Jan 27th, 12:18
I stand to be corrected... but did the Speaker have to cast his vote??!
Parliament presently is made up of 69 Members... Majority has to be at least 35...
The result of the vote for NO CONFIDENCE IN THE GOVERNEMT was only 34 in favour... Therefore it did not obtain the required 35 or more... !!!!!!!
Charles J. Buttigieg
Jan 27th, 12:48
Vince,the Speaker did not need to cast his vote as the motion,with 34\34 had failed,however, Gonzi wanted it to be seen as a win for his side. Idur kemm idur xorta tilef il maggoranza.
godwin difesa
Jan 27th, 13:26
For your information the PL needed to bring the majority of the 69 seats to win the no confidence vote according to our constitution because they cast the motion.Now with little mathematics they had to bring 35 votes from 69 so 34 votes there where not enough.So it is the opposite you are writing PL needed 35 in favor better luck next time may be they will try again soon when the parliament have to vote on money bill which is almost same like no confidence vote.
Brian Gatt
Jan 27th, 12:18
It is far from being over, I will not repeat what everyone has been hearing (rightly so) over and over again, what I will point out is something that no-one ever mentioned - Pride - if the PM has any pride for himself, for his postion and for his party he should get the bull by the horns and tell the General Council next Sunday that unless he has the FULL backing of his MP's he will go to the elections.
That is if the man has any pride left !!! Most probably (based on the recent past when the man was confronted)he will do another re-shuffle and make Dr Franco Debono a Minister (anyway Dr Austin Gatt will be going to the headquarters to spearhead the Electoral Campaign thus liberating a Ministerial post.
I dont know who his advisors are but if they are anything like the ones used for BWSC issue and the Arriva change over well God help us all!!
Alex Falzon
Jan 27th, 13:09
thats what he said yesterday in the press conference
Antoine Zammit
Jan 27th, 12:12
Yes ...
Say the SPECIFIC NAMES of those you are saying should resign now. You promised us an election and you FAILED miserably to cast that YES vote in parliament yesterday.... Abstention was clearly not an option, and you knew this.. You are losing credibility... FAST!!
Now for Hell's sake be specific! The patience of the Poplu Malti Sovran is running short!! You called it oligrachy< I call it TYRANNY, this which we are witnessing. The economy is on its knees. This is worse than a war or a plague. If none of what you were saying in the past weeks materialises into concrete facts... i.e Either an early general election or resignations of all those 'EVIL' characters behind Gonzi PN and the failed Ministers.. all of your exploit so far has been nothing more than a 'ħanqa ta' ħmar'.
Sorry to say this.. but I did support you and spoke well of you. Yesterday you disappointed the Maltese Nation Onoervoli. You betrayed the trust of your same costituents, by abstaining. Gniavo..
Anthony Pace
Jan 27th, 12:11
Next time there wouldn't be an abstentian but a nil or against vote and the PM will have to go to the polls. The constitution shouls be amended to have elections every four years as in most democratic countries. Five years is dragging it too long.
Jo Meli
Jan 27th, 12:10
Since Franco Debono RESIGNED from the Nationalist Party he NO LONGER form Part of the Nationalist [sic] Parliamentary Group, hence the Government is governing Malta by an UNregulated a COALITION of sorts, which Franco is somehow backing withOUT any form of compensation - save insults from the Nationalist [sic] Party and its supporters.
Does Joseph Muscat KNOW that the Party in Power is a coalition ???
IF so what he is going to do about it ???
Carmel Xuereb
Jan 27th, 12:09
Dr. Debono have to jump the last hurdle taht is to vote against the Government in the first vot that takes place in the Parlament, then it will be truly in the hands of the official Prim Minister to call for early general elections to be held in March. You have to do it Dr. Debono, it will not be a no confidence vote but it will carry your message right to the right address.
Daniela Camilleri
Jan 27th, 12:09
Amazing. Suddenly The Times has become more enthusiastic than Joseph Muscat for an early election! We don't need an early election - our focus right now should be how to make sure that Malta continue to weather the terrible international economic crisis successfully - an early general election would be disastrous.
anton cassar
Jan 27th, 12:48
......for the PN you mean ux ?
Jay Aquilina
Jan 27th, 12:50
jigifieri skont int, sena ohra se nkunu f'qadgha finanzjarja ahra minn din is-sena? ghax sena ohra irid u ma jridx Gonzi bilfors jkollu jsejjah elezzjoni
Alex Falzon
Jan 27th, 12:08
In reality I trust that no minister in the world resigns if his ministry fails to achieve the desired results for whatever reason. I trust with all this international crisis all parliament members should resign as everyone seems to have failed.
However, Dr Debono's resignation was not accepted from the PN structures... that means that the PN believes in his abilities and want to retain him - the PN has true democratic values and will be more stronger after this no-confidence motion.
A.M. Galea
Jan 27th, 12:50
Mr.Falzon , you said that the PN by refusing the resegnation of Dr.Franco Debono means that the PN still beleve in his abilities and want to retain him . Now how can you explain the fact that the PN askrd for his resignation ?
Alex Falzon
Jan 27th, 13:11
Because no MP is greater than the party (Dr Debono claimed the same wording last thursday) and the Party leader. The party leader decides whom to appoint - whom to trust - and decide priorities.
In fact no one ever said that Dr Debono's proposal are wrong - they only argued his way of doing things
A.M. Galea
Jan 27th, 19:44
But Mr.Falzon , may I remind you , that every member elected in Parlament is there to represent all the electorate and not the members of that particular party . So once elected he must make his decisions in the interest of the whole country and not in the interest of the party . That is why an MP should make a difference between the party and the government role .
George Attard
Jan 27th, 12:07
all that is missing from those pictures is the red carpet. it's all there to think you're looking at the latest photos from hollywood just before actors and directors make thier way to the Oscars with fans screaming outside! Give me a break, get your heads together (both parties) and do what is best for the country and stop thinking of personal interest.
we need stability, and more imporantly unity. this government should start doing what it was elected to do and run the country and the oppposition should start coming out with a plan if it plans to be in power in the next election.
just saw the State of the Union address by the US President and although I don't expect our leaders to be like Obama, I do expect to see the same passion in our leaders on making this country strong and proud again. If the opposition is so desperate to get into government than it should do so not because the people are fed up with this government but because it does have a plan to make life better, perhaps thier election campagin can convince me but I have yet to see anything impressive.
B Borg
Jan 27th, 12:06
"Dr Debono who said that people who were not delivering were being given additional responsibilities and were being promoted" and yet they are still in power, this time thanks only to you Franco
Rachel Borg
Jan 27th, 12:06
Can this saga now end, please? Yesterday Franco Debono had the opportunity to topple the Government - but he did not. Period. Labour's motion was defeated. End of story. Ha nibqghu sejrin biha. We've had enough of this now. Let the country continue living peacefull because there are bread and butter issues at stake : JOBS! People don't want an early election.
Oliver Grech
Jan 27th, 12:48
Like. Well said.
M Grima
Jan 27th, 13:04
Of course, people like you want this saga to end, perhaps if we had to go for an early election and it is won by the PL, in spite of the power of incumbency enjoyed by the PN, you might lose your ride on the gravy train. And for the record please note that labour's motion was neither defeated and nor won by anyone. It is people like you which are living a dream who cannot accept that your governement is in tatters and that Malta's economy is at a standstill (not my words), but because your think you enjoy god's almighty blessing to rule this country how much as you like and the way you like, you are afraid to face the electorate. All this rheotoric that Malta does not need an election in the present time are all bull similar to your war cry about jobs. You know what, Malta has one of the lowest percentage rates in employment when compared to the population, but because the PN in steered by evil you twist and interpret the statistics as it pleases you.
One last thing, what is Gonzi offering to Franco Debono to keep him quiet for the next 14 months?
Graziella Vella
Jan 27th, 12:05
It is useless to think that through abstention Dr. Debono's trust in government has been restored. This is definitely a case of denial since what he said in past months cannot be simply erased. A draw in parliament is neither a win nor a loss, however, it is evident that politically the government has some serious problems of instability. Maltese citizens are still very uncertain and this uncertainty is definitely affecting businesses and the economy as a whole. By gathering a bunch of Nationalists in front of the parliament to boo at Labour representatives is definitely an indication of how naive Maltese politics are. More ironic was the clapping at Franco Debono, They would have probably continued their insulting campaign against him and his family, should he have voted in favour of the non-confidence motion.... and as the play goes on and on, the Maltese citizen remains the gullible spectator.
Kenneth Williams
Jan 27th, 12:05
MUR ORQOD FRANCO U QUM L GHADA TA L ELEZZJONI
Paul Micallef
Jan 27th, 12:05
Dear Franco, you have been thrown out of the PN, you are an out cast, you only ABSTAINED as you where scared, every human would be, but PLEASE FFFFFFFoooooofffffffffff, i am a PL supporter, and will die one, but you have no princaples at all, just gimmiks, MALTA first??? Its not we can do for you but what you can do for your country???? What a bloody GIMMICK. Leave parlament, at least we know what we ahve on both sides, but you ???? Just go, as the only thing that you are there for is the WAGES.
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 12:04
...i do not support Labour... however the Prime Minister should call an election and get it over and done with. Whatever happens I just hope that we will not end up like Greece, Italy, Spain etc etc... The silly thing is that Labour and Franco caused this, because in Malta we have the lowest rate of unemployment, our economy is doing well, people live well, restuarants are FULL UP on the weekend... where is the 'ghaks' labour talks about?? ...IT WILL be a pity to see the PN loose government just because of the greed of one person, and the greed of Labour... however, so be it if so. I hope that Labour will continue in the PN's steps for a better Malta.
Antoine Psaila
Jan 27th, 12:49
Continue in the PN steps ?????
Hbieb tal-hbieb !!!
Arroganza!!!
Dejn!!!
Progetti bla sens (parlament ,bieb il belt u teatru bla saqaf)
Nepotizmu sfrenat
Weghdi li ma jinzammux
Powerstation li toqtol in nies
Arriva ma non Arriva
500 mitt ewro zieda minn wara dar kulhadd
Prim ministru li mar kontra r-rieda tal-poplu(referendum divorzju)
F'25 sena tlett kwarti tat toroq ghadhom kolla hofor
Riforma f'l-edukazzjoni li kulhadd qed jikritika
Kontijiet tad dawl u ilma tal-wahx
Xoghol prekarju u part time.
Ir-restaurants ikunu mimlijin ghax fiz-zmien il lejber in nies kienu draw jixxalaw imma kien kulhadd bil flus u issa kulhadd jiddejjen biex jibqa jghix kuntent.
Charles Vella
Jan 27th, 15:05
Ghandek ragun Sur Psaila... il PL qaddisin... what you just said is partially true, because we are all humans... However, the truth is that when the PL win the election, they will do just the same, because the thing is that they just hate the fact that the corruption, they are not doing it themselves!
J Mangion
Jan 27th, 12:02
oh give us a break Dr Debono. Even though I am a labour supporter you have shown your true blue colours. You say one thing and totally do another. For the sake of the whole country stop the instability which you have caused. It would have been better if you voted in favour of the government than vote as you did as you have left everybody in limbo !!! Grow up, I think it is time to do so.
Mark Brincat
Jan 27th, 12:02
Dear TimesofMalta, sorry to contradict this report's first statement, but yes, yesterday's vote in Parliament did see the government losing its majority.
Kindly stop lip-serving the Government ASAP.
Best regards,
Mark Brincat
Ian Mamo
Jan 27th, 13:04
The Goverment did not loose the call.... The goverment won by a casted vote...
The Goverment.. ie... Gonzi - Did not suggest a call for confidence, there fore he was being the underdog.
However, Dr Muscat Lost the call for no confidence.
And he also showed how eager for power he is.... so much so that he couldn't stand defeat, just like Dr Sant.
Once again.... we ought to look at it as we always do...
PN did not win the casts, it is the PL who keeps on loosing casts......
Im