PM justifies Debono’s parliamentary assistant job
MP ‘had made some contribution’
Franco Debono and Lawrence Gonzi. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has explained why he retained Franco Debono as his parliamentary assistant, saying the rowdy backbencher had also made some contribution.
“These are things I decide according to circumstances and how things develop,” Dr Gonzi replied when asked why Dr Debono had kept his €7,000 salary as a parliamentary assistant, despite having stopped reporting to work and frequently embarrassing the Prime Minister, contrary to his code of ethics.
“Dr Debono contributed in certain aspects. He also did some things which I absolutely disagree with but in life you have to look forward.
“I think that, from all the experiences we’ve gone through, good and bad, what is important is to do the best thing for the country and that is what I am trying to do.”
Dr Debono was assigned to the Office of the Prime Minister in March 2010 when Dr Gonzi linked eight backbenchers to various ministries to spread the workload and keep everyone involved in government.
Their code of ethics prevents them from embarrassing their ministry, something Dr Debono has done regularly since January, when he declared he had lost confidence in the Prime Minister and challenged him to either resign or call an election.
Parliamentary assistants get €6,600 annually over and above their €19,100 honorarium as MPs.
In Dr Debono’s case, he also receives an additional €6,600 for his job as chairman of a parliamentary committee (the House Committee for the Consolidation and Recodification of Laws), bringing his income up to €32,300.
While Dr Debono holds regular sessions of his parliamentary committee, he has, by his own admission, stopped reporting to work as parliamentary assistant. In November, when he was highly critical of Transport Minister Austin Gatt’s handling of the public transport reform, Dr Debono had said he had not reported to his desk in months.
Since then, Dr Debono has acted more as Dr Gonzi’s nemesis in Parliament than his assistant.
When he was contacted by The Sunday Times last week, Dr Debono said as parliamentary assistant he worked hard to finish his draft law on party financing, the main task he was given.
He filed the party financing law in January as a Private Member’s Bill.
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...
Update 3 - Woman trapped as car crashes...
Revealed...the face of a Maltese woman...
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...
57 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Francesca Abela
Jun 13th 2012, 20:04
Xejn, ahna tlifna kull fiducja fil PM bil kawlati li qed jaghmel u li qed jaqa ghall rikatti ta FD, elezzjioni ohra il PL ser jgawdi jekk Joseph kapaci jipprezenta pakkett tajjeb u 'par idejn sodi' ghax bhalissa Gonzi idejn jitredu ghandu. Ser jitlef skoss voti fis South ghax xbajna bil kummidji, two weights and two measures ma tistax tmexxi gvern.
Joseph Camilleri
Jun 12th 2012, 08:51
Labour should pass a motion asking for Franco Debono to refund the money he's been paid for doing .
Eddy Privitera
Jun 12th 2012, 16:20
It is Lawrence Gonzi who should make Franco Debono pay back any money, once he was not attending at his desk in Castille ! And also make Michael Fenech Adami - Mayor of B'kara - pay back the €5,000 he has been asked to pay back by the auditors !
Noel Mifsud
Jun 12th 2012, 08:48
Sabiha 32 000 euro biex ma jamel xejn, hlief skond hu ir rapport. IL haddiem bil paga minimia irid 4 snin biex jaqlahhom dawk. Dik gsutizzja Sur PM. Nirringrazjak bil quddiem talli tigi tghidilna li idejk sodi u zgur ma tal qalba imma.
Noel Mifsud
Jun 12th 2012, 07:56
Mur emmnekl sur PM, Mela insejt li l malti jghidlek li min ma jilhaqx l gheneb jghid li hu qares. Qedin sew f dal pajjiz, ma tirraportax ghax xoghol u tiehu l paga, umbghad hawn min jahdem jobs prekarji. Mulej ghaliex lil ma gibtnix bhal Sur Debono, ma nahdimx u nithallas, jew bhal xi Ministru ghax nitkecca niehu is somma xorta, jew gha ma jtellawnix niehu is somma xorta. Taf biex ried jiggustifika din il PM, ghax qal Alfred Sant hada, igifieri hadd ma jista jghid xejn. Ara kemm qedin sew, mela jekk ghamel hazin ma Alfred Sant, ma sarx hazin ma Agius, Zammit Dimech, Mifsud Bonnici zgur. Thx
Lawrence Fenech
Jun 12th 2012, 04:33
Sewwa wiehed jiehu 7,000 euro, l-iehor jiehu 5,200 euro biex ipatti ghal tas-7,000 euro u il-poplu 1 euro 16 cents. 500 ohra baqghu gol but tal-membri u il-poplu ihallas it taxxi.
Edward Farrugia
Jun 12th 2012, 02:10
Dear PM on this one I feel insulted for you to state that FD has in fact given his valid contribution as Parliamentary Assistant continuing receiving at the same time his 7000 euro extra allowance that this task entails. By his own admission he confirms ceasing to meet his responsibilities and duties in this regard as from November, 2011,whilst in the meantime throwing unceremoniously out of the window a code of ethics that his position demanded .
The situation needed no explanation to go into as everyone was fully aware of our FD;s irrisponsible behaviour in treathening and blackmailing the Government left, right and centre. The PM could have inherited more support if he simply stated that some political strings had to be pulled behind the scences to allow it to finish its job as legitimately entitled to do during its full time of this legislature.
FD deserves no honours for acting the way he did - full stop.
M Cassar
Jun 11th 2012, 22:48
Now just think, what if I had reported for work up to last January and then did not turn up any more and instead directed my energy at criticizing and attacking all and sundry for not doing their duty.......would I still be getting a pay check at the end of each month? Guess not!!
If this is politics, no wonder that many would not touch it with a ten foot pole. I wonder what that says about the ones who do?!
Cornelius Murphy
Jun 11th 2012, 21:36
What puppets!
A. Mizzi
Jun 11th 2012, 21:29
Where does this leave us, us poor tax-xpayers?
Gonzi has made the country's finances his own to dispose off by giving out handouts!
That is not fair, not just , our taxes are entrusted to administer not to give out!
Shame on you Dr. Gonzi for continuously dipping your hand in the till, our till!
Robert Lewis
Jun 11th 2012, 20:48
Small Cabinet my foot, a PM, Ministers, PS, Ass.PS and Chairmen, the 35 of them and you call that a Small Cabinet making thousands of euro from tax payers money. And immediately after CMB was voted out, they start discussing FD's motion. U dawn mhux kollha teatrini.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 11th 2012, 20:19
Dr Gonzi needs to 'justify' the continued presence of Franco Debono within the ranks of the PN, that's what he needs to 'justify'. Many people simply cannot fathom this way of thinking. CMB has been made the sacrificial lamb.
Colin Camilleri
Jun 11th 2012, 18:46
So an MP still gets the money for admitting that he did not carry out his job or what was expected from him. While a few hours ago, a 32 year veteran got fired for misappropriating some glue which is worth 53 euros.
Citizens out there open your eyes come next general election.
Franco Farrugia
Jun 11th 2012, 20:20
Yeah and in what way will things change, with the other gang in power? Eh? Eh?
francis xavier azzopardi
Jun 12th 2012, 07:54
yes colin. citizens open your eyes and stay home come next election.
Eddy Privitera
Jun 12th 2012, 18:59
Franco Farrugia. You are not in a position to judge, certainly not before Dr. Muscat and his Pl are in government.. Who knows, you might get the surprise of your life, and do what many true "nationalists" are doing, join Dr. Muscat's movement !
Toni Borg
Jun 11th 2012, 18:30
Doing the best for the country by squandering Eur7,000 to a parliamentary secretary that has stopped reporting for work for months???
What kind of good is that for the country ? What message dear Prime Minister are you sending to the nation through your decision? Surely not a positive one!
anthony bartolo
Jun 11th 2012, 22:51
Franco was called A HERO as long as he was threating the stability of the government.The picture is different now and he is beeing seen as a traitor...............Labour famous for U TURNS.
ALFRED BRIFFA
Jun 11th 2012, 17:34
Isimghu hbieb u dawk anqas, jien qatt ma tajt ragun lil Dr Franco Debono fuq li kien qed jaghmel u kif ghadda lil Partit, lilna l-partitarji u lil Prim Ministru min kedded u tahwid. Imma bir-rispett kollu, ma nahsibx li Franco Debono qed jistenna l-allowance tal-Assistent Parlamentari biex jixtri x'jiekol ghada!
Kulhadd jaf li l-avukati tal-Krimnal ta certu portata Alla jbierek ikollhom xoghol ghalihom u biex izommu magghom avukati ohra!
Lawrence Fenech
Jun 12th 2012, 04:36
@Briffa.
Mhux raguni biex kullhadd ibill subajh fil-finanzi.
Joseph Borg
Jun 12th 2012, 05:30
Jaqla' kemm jaqla', Dr. Debono lanqas irrinunzja ghalihom is-7,000 Euro! Mela l-impjegati l-ohra tal-gvern bil-palm reader mill-oghla direttur sa l-inqas impjegat, imbaghad Dr. Debono ma jirrappurtax ghax-xoghol u jithallas xorta. Fejn hu l-Awditur Generali?
Noel Mifsud
Jun 12th 2012, 07:58
Żlaqt man ghax ma jfissirx li ghax ma ghandekx bzomm tithallas izjed, anzi suppsot il gvern jghin lil minn hu fil bzonn mhux jalaq ghajnejh ghal minn mhuwiex fil bzonn. Jekk qed tippretendi li naqblu mijak ghalhekk qedin sew mela f dal pajjiz.
Ivan Peresso
Jun 11th 2012, 17:27
Il Politikanti huma mpjegati tal-poplu, meta jigu ghall-vot hu hsieb li tahseb ftit qabel timmarka l-preferenza tieghek, ivota bi hsieb.
J Busuttil
Jun 11th 2012, 17:08
@ Franco Debono
If would be a good idea if you look at all your featured articles on the Times on line and read what the same Labour bloggers featured in this blog used to say about your actions.
All your so called friends have become your enemies. That is Labour
Jean-Michel Azzopardi
Jun 11th 2012, 17:33
That is Politics.
Alfred Fenech
Jun 11th 2012, 16:47
PN, how about upgrading Mayor Fenech Adami to Parliamentary Assistant......
Joseph M. Saliba
Jun 11th 2012, 20:38
INTI BIS-SERJETA' QED TGID HEKK. f'B'kara qatt ma kien hawn hmieg daqs issa. Barra minn hekk hemm hafna roadmarkings li huma illegali. Malta Transport Authority are aware.
victor bonello
Jun 11th 2012, 16:29
I wonder what else did Franco get underhand for having mocked the Maltese people and taken every one for a ride..now I am more convinced then ever the whole farce was orchestrated by the PN marketing machine..
James Grech
Jun 11th 2012, 16:27
The PM has been trying to do what's good for the country....he's been repeating this over and over again ad nauseum. He must truly believe that he's doing exactly this, only, should you ask the people out there Dr.Gonzi, you'll realise that many will fail to agree with you, outright. It is blatantly clear, even to those that do not give a hoot about politics, that your priorities about doing everything for the good of the country, are extremely flawed and twisted.
Angus Black
Jun 11th 2012, 17:12
James Grech, if the PM had to ask people out there, he would find many, many who would disagree that what he has been doing was in the best interest of the country.
Indeed, and they all belong to the Labour Party, and there is nothing new about that. They did it to Borg Olivier (father of Independence) they did it to Eddie Fenech Adami (the father of Democracy and EU membership) and are now doing it to Dr Gonzi who adopted the Euro, brought our finances under control, took on infrastructure improvement throughout the island....
Tell me, Mr Grech what benefits are accrued by having an Opposition bent on distorting, insulting and generally oppose anything this government does and which, if any, policies and projects undertaken by this government, Joseph will stop, discontinue, reverse and destroy? If you say he will, then it would be a government which throws us back 30 years. If you say none, then Joseph would prove the NP government right.
You see what kind of corner the Labour Party has painted itself into?
Eddy Privitera
Jun 11th 2012, 17:25
Angus Black: The article we are commenting on is about another Fenech Adami - Michael - having taken an extra €5,000 which he doesn't want to return back as having been told by the auditors ! And citing Franco Debono as having still received his salary for the new post invented by Gonzi, which Franco debono abandoned since last November, as justifying his decision not to pay the money back !
This SCANDAL is ALL IN HE GONZIPN FAMILY. Instead you deviate from the subject, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS - IT MAKES YOU ASHAMED OF SUPORTING THIS OLIGARCHY !!!!!!
Jonathan Brimmer
Jun 11th 2012, 16:22
Leadership qualities thrown out of the window... if they ever existed in the first place!
Frans Aguis
Jun 11th 2012, 16:07
I suppose the word "Unconditional " was thrown around too lightly
Manuel Camilleri
Jun 11th 2012, 16:01
Huge mistake, Dr. Gonzi. Enough of this Debonjata charade. The only contribution he made was towards the PL and towards his inflated ego. You are never sure about the guy. Your MPs and Ministers are "afraid" of this guy since it might be their turn next. You lost a true gentleman in CMB and opted for this person.
Eddy Privitera
Jun 11th 2012, 15:52
Kif wiehed jista jikkuntempla jivvota ghal prim ministru li juza flus il-poplu biex forsi jirnexxilu ( u ma rnexxilux !) izomm halqu maghluq wiehed mid-deputati tieghu ! Anzi , numru ta' deputati , imma wiehed minnhom ammetta li ilu minn Novembru jmur jahdem ta' assistent parlamentari , u xorta wahda Gonzi baqa jghatih is-salarju gdid ! DAK EZEMPJU !!!
anthony bartolo
Jun 11th 2012, 23:19
Tant tghaggel biex tparla fil vojt li lanqas indunajt li ghidt bil maqlub dak li ridt veru tghid sur Eddy Privitera....................ilu minn Novembru jmur jahdem ta' assistent parlamentari.
Francesca Abela
Jun 11th 2012, 15:33
Har har - what's good for the goose dear Franco - is good for the gander! Mela jekk Dr Carm was removed because according to dear Franco aka the court jester Dr Carm did not perform , so also Dear Franco did not attend his job. Mela il PM qed jibza min Franco issa?? This is the perfect way to lose more votes from disgruntled Nationalists sur Prim! Kompli sejjer hekk halli tikser ir record b'kemm ser jitlef voti il PN elezzjioni ohra, u mhux il PL ser ittelifilikhom , imma in nies tal PN li xebaw b-dawn il kummidji kolla biex tagevolaw il court jester li milli jidher qed jaghmel li jrid u hadd ma jista jikkontrollah, ara kieku kien hemm Eddie FA jekk kienx jaghmel li ghamel dear Franco!!
rita Farrugia
Jun 11th 2012, 16:00
Francesca, why not ask Joseph Muscat for a motion against Franco now?
Lawrence Fenech
Jun 11th 2012, 16:43
@Rita.
The enemy of your enemy is your friend. That's why.
C Magri
Jun 11th 2012, 15:21
Ever heard the saying 'Keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer'?
George Azzopardi
Jun 11th 2012, 15:18
Fejn irrid ghandu flus!!
Patricia Mifsud
Jun 11th 2012, 15:16
Some day we'll find out what is the hold that Dr Debono has on Dr Gonzi. Something there has to be.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Jun 11th 2012, 15:01
Dear Dr Gonzi, money can't buy you love.
Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jun 11th 2012, 23:31
Or, more importantly, respect!
Sue Borg
Jun 11th 2012, 12:34
So, by his own admission, Dr Debono no longer ´works´ as a parliamentary assistant, but he still gets his 7,000 Euro check! Some accountablity that is ....
Michael Magri
Jun 11th 2012, 12:11
“..Dr Debono contributed in certain aspects. He also did some things which I absolutely disagree with but in life you have to look forward.."
but in life you have to look forward, HE SAYS....!!! Is that why Dr Gonzi, you and your `Klikka` every time you have NO CONCRETE rerply to Dr Muscat`s constractive criticizm of your political doings / non-doings, you always GO BACK to the 70`s & 80`s for your REFUGE, ( you wish)....!!!
Anthony Arpa
Jun 11th 2012, 11:51
Sewwa qedin ta f'dan il Pajjiez tal Micky Mouse ....
Mela sewwa il Haddiema kollha bil Punch Clock u bl'inspectors fuqhom u Alla jaf jekk dawn imorru u isibu li imqar il haddiema jkunu telqu xi ftit minuti qabel il hin ... U Alla jbierek il parlamentari taghna immorru biss meta jfetilhom il parlament ... Hekku mhumiex privilegati dawk li jirbhu dak is Siggu tal Parlament bil Vot tal poplu. ...
matteo lamanna
Jun 11th 2012, 11:34
In my humble opinion our PM is acting correctly in the administration of the Country but in the meantime i would suggest to Mr. F. DEBONO going to Napoli where they are looking for an actor to interpret a
'SCENEGGIATA NAPOLETANA' For sure He will win an Oscar!!!!!
Jonathan Camilleri
Jun 11th 2012, 10:27
Well, let's give Dr. Debono a second chance, he's just a bit outgoing, I guess.
Francis Bonello
Jun 11th 2012, 13:53
@ Jonathan Debono
If Dr Debono is given a second chance to content in the name of the PN, I will vote PL
lilly vella
Jun 11th 2012, 10:04
jithallas talli jghin fl istrategijja ta gbir tan nghag il mitlufa.
Joseph Grech Attard
Jun 11th 2012, 10:00
But that is the general attitude of the present government, and has been as such even during EFA's rule. If you are Nationalist you can not go to work, or work as you please, or "resist passively" and get paid just the same (by the taxpayers' money, of course)! It is true that "There's no ill wind that blows no good," but this holds only for GonziPN and NOT for the island of Malta. There is so much "ill wind" blowing, that one can only hope for a 'good' if the citizens make the wind change its direction!
R. Cilia
Jun 11th 2012, 16:08
So true Joseph,so true!
Joe Grech
Jun 11th 2012, 09:55
Dr. Gonzi never had any right to give e7000 to ''eight backbenchers when he arbitrarily assigned them to do ''overtime work'' in various ministries.''
This was taxpayer money he was using and he had no right to do what he did - there's nothing in the Constitution which allows this flagrant misuse of national money.
He says this was done '' to spread the workload and keep everyone involved in government '' but most Maltese know that he just wanted to shut up his grumbling backbenchers.
On assuming office after the last election the first thing that Dr. Gonzi did was to appease his exMinisters whom he did not reappoint. I believe he gave them each about Lm20,000.
And to ensure that the Opposition would not cause any problems in this abuse, he also offered togive that amount to ex P.L. Leader Dr. Alfred Sant.
I personally believe that this Prime Minister preaches saintliness, accountability and responsibility but acts very, very differently. Shame!
Francis Sammut
Jun 11th 2012, 11:53
I agree 100% with you sir. The Prime Minister had no right whatsoever to do what he did. The government was composed of ministers and parliamentary secretaries. Helping them they have their private secretaries and a number of ministerial employees who together help the minister to carry out his/her job. This parliamentary assistant job created as we know to shut up the mutineers, is costing us dearly. It's no us the PM trying to downplay the issue by saying that it's not a burden on the state and that the Cabinet was downsized which means we're still saving a lot of money. The PM and other ands other MP's keep harping that the PL is trying everything in his power to gain control of the government. That might be true. But isn't it also true that by the PM's antics the PN is showing that it's doing everything in it's power to stay in government even if it knows that it's dangling by a hair, ready to snap any moment.
Alfred Vassallo
Jun 11th 2012, 15:53
Precisely so! These are in my opinion corrupt or dishonest practices, call them what you like.
The PM makes use of taxpayer monies as if they are his to dispense with and do so in what manner he sees fit as long as the end justifies the means, and then to add insult to injury he gives himself and the MPs a Euro 500 increase whilst giving the worker a Euro 1.16..
Now if this isn't a matter of preaching one thing but doing the exact opposite in broad daylight I don't know what is. And its these thing that ordinary people have to look for when the PM address them.
Mr J Xerri
Jun 11th 2012, 09:47
"PM justifies Debono’s parliamentary assistant job." Has he any other option?
Please choose the reason of your report below: