Updated - adds new quotes

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has warned the prime minister that he will not accept a parliamentary vote on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill before a private motion on justice and home affairs is debated in the House.

"I think I gave them enough time and holidays to remedy the situation and I will not accept to have a vote on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill before the motion," Dr Debono  told timesofmalta.com

The motion was presented by the Opposition on December 5 and the Opposition has since repeatedly criticised the government for not bringing it up for debate.

The Budget Measures Implementation Bill continued to be debated when parliament reconvened after a four-week Easter recess this evening.

Dr Debono said parliament was being bypassed through delaying tactics, and this was unacceptable.

"The people must understand that all these manoeuvres are not only not in the national interest, but intended solely so that no one assumed political responsibility and resigns.

"The Prime Minister should have understood by now that these tactics do not work with me."

I made it clear to the prime minister that I will not accept the budget vote before the debate on the justice motion," he said. 

The motion demands that political responsibility be assumed for 'endemic problems' in the sectors falling under the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs - which was then under the responsibility of Carm Mifsud Bonnici. The ministry was later split.

The motion was presented two weeks after a wide-ranging motion on the justice sector presented by Dr Debono himself.

Dr Debono, a criminal lawyer, said he was also insisting that his motion must be debated.

As to how he would vote, Dr Debono said one would cross the bridges when one came to them.

No division vote has been taken in parliament since Dr Debono abstained in a no-confidence vote on January 26, and the Speaker used his casting vote.

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