The Opposition has given notice of two adjournment motions in parliament calling for immediate debate on an Opposition motion censuring (then) Justice and Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici and another calling for the resignation of Richard Cachia Caruana, Malta's permanent representative to the EU.
The motions are expected to be backed by Nationalist MP Franco Debono, effectively forcing the government's hand on the conduct of business in Parliament, as had happened when two Nationalist MPs backed the opposition in a motion which led to the divorce referendum last year.
The opposition's motion on justice and home affairs was originally filed in December and has been pending since then, while the notion against Mr Cachia Caruana was filed last week.
The justice motion criticises Dr Mifsud Bonnici's handling of the justice ministry and for not moving much needed reform. Dr Muscat said the motion on justice is being amended to call for Dr Mifsud Bonnici's resignation.
The second motion claims that Mr Cachia Caruana had, in 2004, been negotiating to get Malta back in Partnership for Peace behind Parliament's back, a claim which the government denies. The motion calls for Mr Cachia Caruana to resign.
The Prime Minister earlier this week declared that parliament's priority was to vote on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill and the Bill on the setting up of a special purpose vehicle to finance the City Gate project.
He made his declaration after Dr Debono revealed that he had told Dr Gonzi that he would not accept the vote on the Budget bill before his own motion on reforms of justice and home affairs (filed in November) and that of the opposition, were debated.
Dr Debono has been a harsh critic of both Dr Mifsud Bonnici and Mr Cachia Caruana.
When contacted this afternoon and asked about his position, he said: “I will do what Gonzi has known for more than a year that I will do, and what the justice system has long needed to be done.
"While Gonzi defends Carm Mifsud Bonnici, I will defend justice and home affairs."
He said that from the backbench he had brought about the greatest reforms in this sector and there was still his 22-point motion to be discussed.
"Lawrence Gonzi not only destroyed democracy but also the concept of Cabinet government.
Dr Debono, a criminal lawyer, said he was very familiar with these sectors and he was well aware that people were utterly fed up how these portfolios had been handled. These people, he said, included workers in the departments falling within these portfolios.
"While Gonzi concentrates on Operation Kitchens, my actions will be motivated by the national interest, " Dr Debono said.
Dr Debono has not said how he will vote on the budget measures bill, with the most likely scenario being that he will abstain - since he had already backed the Budget when the Appropriation Bill was voted in.
The budget bill and the bill on the funding of the City Gate projects are money bills and the government will be brought down if they are not approved. However the government can hang on if Dr Debono abstains and the Speaker uses his casting vote.
In 2009 Dr Debono abstained in a minor parliamentary vote, explaining that he was protesting that Malta was the only EU country that was not allowing police suspects any access to a lawyer.
Dr Muscat said this afternoon the Opposition had been ready to reach some sort of agreement with the government on the timetable of the House for the next two weeks, but the government unilaterally decided to hold the Budget measures Bill on May 9. He said the opposition remained open to agreement on the parliamentary timetable.
He said Dr Gonzi needed to get his own house (the PN) in order in the national interest.