Lawrence Gonzi wins his vote of confidence
Vote ‘clear and unconditional’
A satisfied Lawrence Gonzi arrives in the Palace yard to give a statement after winning the confidence vote yesterday. Backbencher Franco Debono was not with the Nationalist Parliamentary group. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi won a vote of confidence in Parliament yesterday after all government MPs voted in favour.
Errant Nationalist MP Franco Debono, who said he had no regrets in voting to oust former Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici last week, voted with the government.
Speaking in the Palace yard after the three-hour-long parliamentary session, Dr Gonzi said the vote was “clear and unconditional”, as he had wanted it to be. “This is a closed chapter and it is time to move on.”
But Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said the vote did not solve the political problems hounding Dr Gonzi’s administration. “The problems will return.”
Dr Debono was not present with the PN parliamentary group that stood behind Dr Gonzi as he addressed the media after the vote.
No explanation was given for Dr Debono’s absence and the Prime Minister did not take questions. He also ignored the media when exiting the Palace into St George’s Square where a small crowd of PN supporters chanted “Gonzi, Gonzi”.
Dr Debono had declared he would be voting with the government during the debate but he insisted on the implementation of political and democratic reforms such as a law regulating political party financing.
“I am ready to help the Prime Minister implement the reforms I have long been talking about. It is not about appeasing me,” Dr Debono said.
He even described last week’s vote as a historical event since it “re-established” Parliament as the highest institution in the country.
“This country is not run by blogs but by Parliament,” he charged, in veiled criticism of blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia.
But according to opposition leader Joseph Muscat, the vote did not bring about the clarity Dr Gonzi was hoping for.
“We are back to square one,” Dr Muscat repeated. He pointed out that Dr Debono’s vote was conditional on the implementation of reforms and this fell short of the benchmark set by the Prime Minister. Dr Muscat accused the Prime Minister of ignoring the problems created by his style of leadership.
“The problem is not Franco Debono,” he insisted, adding the Prime Minister was “hostage to the seat of power”.
The debate started shortly after 6 p.m. in front of a packed Strangers’ Gallery. Dr Mifsud Bonnici, who resigned last week after losing a vote of no confidence, only entered the main chamber at 8.30 p.m. He sat alone at the far end of the backbench reading a book while his nemesis Dr Debono stood just metres away chatting with parliamentary colleagues Stephen Spiteri and Robert Arrigo.
Beppe Fenech Adami than moved over and sat next to Dr Mifsud Bonnici, who was later joined by Gozitan MP Frederick Azzopardi.
Kicking off the debate, Dr Gonzi said he had to bow his head in front of Parliament’s decision last week to oust the former Home Affairs Minister.
He justified calling the vote of confidence because clarity was needed in the national interest.
“Families want a government that addresses their aspirations and their problems... these internal games between us benefit no one.”
Dr Gonzi said his government had to focus on its agenda to steer the country at a crucial time for the economy. He insisted job creation was the single most important matter. He highlighted a number of pending issues including the negotiations with unions to conclude a collective agreement for the civil service.
At no point did Dr Gonzi mention Dr Debono or the reforms the MP has been clamouring for over the past few months. The Prime Minister accused the Opposition of opportunism and making extraordinary financial promises that were impossible to keep.
“This vote is not just a formal request for confidence in the government but hidden in its language is a call of no confidence in the Opposition leader,” Dr Gonzi insisted.
Apart from the Prime Minister and Dr Debono, the government side had three other speakers: Francis Zammit Dimech, Environment Minister Mario de Marco and Foreign Minister Tonio Borg.
Dr Muscat was the only speaker from the opposition. He said that he expected the Prime Minister, who has taken the home affairs portfolio under his wing, to do things differently.
He expected Dr Gonzi to move forward on the creation of a police union and set a date by when the freedom of information act would be implemented.
The debate got lively towards the end as in his closing speech Dr Gonzi upped the ante by recalling the police violence of the 1980s and the poor human rights record of the Labour administration.
Opposition MPs objected but then gave Dr Gonzi a cynical applause when he said the vote was clear and unconditional.
Popular Stories
Old buses, drivers to return
Former Judge Ray Pace found dead
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Three new Nationalist MPs elected –...
Where’s Everybody staff is given notice
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Update 4 - Eddie Fenech Adami stable...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
In Discussion
Old buses, drivers to return
Updated: Minister apologises for...
Updated - Director of Prisons submits...
Enemalta seeking minimum five year gas...
Protected birds shot and trapped as...
Mario de Marco, Zammit Dimech concede,...
PN postpones salaries as financial...
Updated - PM's offer to Opposition MPs...
No appeals board for first part of power...
20 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Jonathan Camilleri
Jun 7th 2012, 15:19
We are happy to note your confidence Dr. Gonzi, however, people have quite a bit to tell you before you win their confidence, sarcastically speaking:
1. Some politicians did not read the Caritas report. Is this a sign of seriousness?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120329/local/Some-politicians-did-not-read-Caritas-report-Mgr-Grech.413185
2. Social media is popular, why don't you start following some blogs?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/maltahumanist/.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120606/blogs/not-mychoice.423062
Jesmond Micallef
Jun 5th 2012, 23:44
"The debate got lively towards the end as in his closing speech Dr Gonzi upped the ante by recalling the police violence of the 1980s and the poor human rights record of the Labour administration."
The PN hid a whole cache of weapons within the walls of it's headquarters at tal Pieta' once. What was that all about back then ?
VINCENT WILLIAMS
Jun 5th 2012, 21:35
Time will tell that this is not a close chapter as the Prime Minister stated. So much so that the Prime Minister after finishing from his short conference. Run as fast as he could away from the journalists because he was afraid of being asked embarrassing questions.
Charles Mangion
Jun 5th 2012, 17:06
Tal Labour bahnana qed jaqu an nasbA TA Franco u qed jinqeda bijom ax qatt mu se jwaqa Gvern
GL Calleja
Jun 5th 2012, 15:47
So Dr Gonzi got his way and very smartly got his vote of confidence..
Dr Franco Debono got his way and managed to oust CMB..( Sacrificial Lamb ).
Dr Muscat is still trying to put sticks in the wheels. awaiting the next move by FD.
Let us hope the drama is over, and the whole Parliament can move on to running the country.
Let the government finish their term and then advance from there. Parliament cannot concentrate on running this country if they keep busy trying to accommodate personal vendettas against fellow politicians. Parliament should be discussing on how to solve the Illegal Immigration Invasion. As we can see the other EU States have no intention of aiding Malta in this sharing program and the EU confirmed that in their report.
I wonder what would happen if if Dr Gonzi was to appoint Dr Franco Debono an MP and put him in charge of the Judicial and Legal system? Give the man enough rope and see what develops. After all most people think that is what he is aiming for. He did not like the way CMB ran the office, let us see if he can do a better job. After all GonziPN still has over a year in power and who knows what can happen? (Thinking aloud).
PS. Don't shoot the messenger please, after all it is just a suggestion.
Tony Agius
Jun 5th 2012, 14:50
Lawrence Gonzi wins his vote of confidence
“We are back to square one,” Dr Muscat repeated , SO Joseph is not a kwazi Prim Ministru , but he was thrown back to a just PRETENDER .
Nicholas Grech
Jun 5th 2012, 13:49
This was as surprising an outcome as when Gonzi won the election where he was the only candidate.
Jonathan Camilleri
Jun 5th 2012, 13:02
Well I congratulate Dr. Gonzi for winning the second confidence vote this year, however, one should not forget the hostile attitude shown by party pushers towards politicians including Daphne Caruana Galizia's attacks on Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, and, many people's insults towards Dr. Franco Debono. Although some figures are controversial, they may find these attacks as libellious.
I do hope that the charade of public relations and sugar coating covers sustainable and holistic action, rather than targeted marketing in the future. As many have noted, PN have smartly bought time to carry out corrective action - which is better than ducking one's head in the sand, but still the question remains...
Quo vadis?
mario gellel
Jun 5th 2012, 12:16
PLAYING FOR TIME FOR THE SAKE OF HOLDING TO POWER WHILE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY IS IN LIMBO. AND FOR WHAT ??????
1= TO SEE HIS MONSTER PARLAMENT MONUMENT READY UNDER HIS REGIME RIGN ???????
2= TO WIN HIS BETTING THAT HE MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE WHOLE LEGISLATION ????????
HISTORY WILL BE WRITTEN FOR THE LEGISLATION FOR ALL TO REMEMBER. IT WILL MAKE ALL CRY WITH A LITTLE BIT OF LOUGH.
J.C. Borg
Jun 5th 2012, 15:09
"HISTORY WILL BE WRITTEN FOR THE LEGISLATION FOR ALL TO REMEMBER..."
Mr Gellel, you forgot to mention that everyone will remember that JM wanted to be Malta's yougest PM, since he was elected as leader of the PL, but he had to wait untill the present lesgislation came to a (legal) end.
Joe Tabone
Jun 5th 2012, 15:11
Mario, yes he is governing the country with the mandate he was given in the last election. History is written for every legislation but the one's for PL stick out................especially when 'hanging on to power' for over 5 years against the will of the people!
Carmel Serracino-inglott
Jun 5th 2012, 15:18
I see it this way. The LP so much would like to GOVERN that for them it is addio Malta l-ewwel but LP is now l-ewwel but they are not yet in reality. So their move is to try to disrupt parliament as much as possible to slow the giant steps of this government but who spits in the air....
J.C. Borg
Jun 5th 2012, 11:48
Dr Debono qed jilghab loghoba doppja. Daqqa mal-PN biex jinki lil-PL u daqqa mal-PL biex jinki lil-PN.
Ezattament x'qed jiehu ma nafx, naf li bhal-lum sena ninsew li kien jezisti.
Il-bierah gie rrapportat li Joseph qal li "ma ssolva xejn". Da zgur li ma ssova xejn, ghax hu kap tal-Oppozizzjoni se jibqa'.
Henry S Pace
Jun 5th 2012, 10:35
' Dr Debono stood just metres away chatting with parliamentary colleagues '
Maybe he was suggesting and discussing what to do next time round. Franco is a 'Political' enigma in the NP.
Come next election and he would disappear from the Political arena.
Joseph Grech Attard
Jun 5th 2012, 10:29
" ... these internal games between us benefit no one."
Games? You play games in parliament? That's a serious admission dear PM! Games need players! Therefore, the parliamentary members of GonziPN are just players! Odds were very low at this voting, because there were no surprises as to who was going to win!!
I, personally, find it more of a pre-meditated saga/soap opera, rather than a game. Now it was time to stop, so as to start a new one after the black sheep return to their den, to be fed 'honey and milk!'
That, my friends, is the politics of our present government, in times of a possible total collapse of everything built these past few years of EU membership, which were supposed to bring us a world of bliss! We have been misled and deceived! The present EU situation proves that the politics of extreme Capitalism and 'laissz-faire' does not work, the same as Communism.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jun 5th 2012, 11:04
@ Joseph Grech Attard, today at 10:29.
You do not understand, or you pretend not to understand, that the shameful "games in parliament" are being called by the Franco Debono-LP unholy alliance. That disruptive game would be stopped immediately as soon as one of those two partners-in-conspiracy ceases to co-operate with the other in a nefarious attempt to destabilise the legitimately elected government for their own different egoistic reasons.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jun 5th 2012, 18:18
Dr Saliba: it was also the Pm playing games, calling for another ot of confidence - as much a game as running in the one man race.
Charles Sammut
Jun 5th 2012, 09:59
Wow..what a surprise!....he won..he won!!
" I am ready to help the Prime Minister implement the reforms I have long been talking about. It is not about appeasing me,” Dr Debono said. ..Maybe YOU are hoping to be allowed to help Gonzi or maybe this is what gonziPN promised you ..but do you seriously think gonziPN is going to involve you in any serious decision taking?!? The only reform you, Franco will be involved in,would be when gonziPN will be reformed without your humorous and spineless inclusion!
Me thinks the sweetener "ic-cejca" that you were promised prior to the Mickey Mouse vote of confidence was a "pie in the sky"...unless you signed a contract.....which I doubt!
...and the beat still goes on....and the beat will go on.......
Ms Xaxa Caruana
Jun 5th 2012, 10:49
@Charles Sammut
Dude I enjoy reading your comments....well said.
Charles Sammut
Jun 5th 2012, 11:21
Thank you Xaxa...you're a breath of fresh air! A most welcome change from the morons who label me with the Red colour just because I have the guts to voice my opinion and having eyes wide open to see what has been happening under this regime and in possession of an astute nose which is sick and tired of smelling the pungent smoke without fire of corruption which has been choking the island in the sun for so many years!
..and the beat goes on...and on...and on.....
Please choose the reason of your report below: