Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday predicted that tonight’s confidence motion would go through given that the Prime Minister insisted on his demand to have a “clear” and “unconditional” vote from backbencher Franco Debono.

Tonight’s vote was called by the Prime Minister on Wednesday soon after Dr Debono voted with the opposition to oust Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici. Dr Mifsud Bonnici stepped down that same night.

Dr Muscat argued that the Prime Minister’s insistence on a clear vote was hollow because it was evident the vote would go through tonight. However, he argued problems would remain, adding that the opposition would hold him to this new benchmark on confidence motions.

The government had forged ahead in January when a confidence motion was defeated thanks to the Speaker’s casting vote as Dr Debono abstained.

Although Dr Debono has suggested to The Sunday Times that he will be supporting the government tonight and, possibly, throughout the rest of the legislature, he tied his vote to the implementation of certain reforms.

Moreover, he has not declared categorically that he would not be abstaining.

Whatever the outcome of tonight’s vote, both parties are clearly in campaign mode.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday struck a warring tone, saying Labour had shown its true colours and dealt a hard blow to “genuine politics” with its unsubstantiated motion against Dr Mifsud Bonnici.

In his 40-minute address, Dr Gonzi not once mentioned Dr Debono.

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