Lawrence Gonzi is to blame for current situation

For Simon Busuttil (The Sunday Times, January 15) shamelessly claims that Labour leader Joseph Muscat “wants to precipitate an early general election”, when he knows that the root of the problem which brought about the possibility of an early general election is actually Lawrence Gonzi’s errant ways of handling his parliamentary group.

I suggest Dr Busuttil asks Nationalist MPs as well as former Nationalist minister Michael Falzon , who said precisely this to another Sunday newspaper.

If economic activity slows down during an election campaign, then the quicker we get the election over the better it would be for all. Surely, having an early election is much better than continuing with a government wobbling from one week to the next for a few more months.

The real aim of Dr Busuttil’s contribution is to buy a few more months for Dr Gonzi and his strategists so that they may have enough time to prepare and unleash their usual bombardment of pre-election promises, costly publications paid for, not by the PN but by taxpayers, sent to all households, and many other electoral gimmicks which GonziPN is renowned for.

Referring to rebel Nationalist MP Franco Debono, Dr Busuttil wrote: “But even among the fiercest democratic adversaries there are basic rules of decency and correctness” – precisely the attributes which Dr Gonzi lacks and which have been highlighted not just by Dr Debono but also by other dissident Nationalist MPs and former ministers. Suffice to mention perhaps the least unethical one – the way Dr Gonzi informed former ministers that they were not being retained after the 2008 election – through a text message. I can just imagine Dr Busuttil repeating the same words to Dr Debono’s face on TV.

Regarding the duration of the debate on the opposition’s no confidence motion, Dr Busuttil forgot to mention that Dr Muscat had offered a 12-hour debate which the Prime Minister refused, accusing Dr Muscat of itching for power. Coming from one who is doing everything to retain power at all costs, it is rather rich!

Dr Busuttil also reminded readers that Alfred Sant’s Labour government had been tottering for eight months before an election was held. He knows the Gonzi government has been tottering for the last three years. At the time of writing, I do not know the outcome of the opposition’s motion of no confidence. If it has been approved, then a general election should be called immediately. If it has not been carried, we are in for much more instability – certainly not conducive to healthy economic activity – precisely what Dr Busuttil supposedly does not want.