Nationalist MP Franco Debono said today that he will consider his position in the Nationalist Party unless he is given a date for a meeting to review the decisions taken by the party Executive against him. He is also insisting that he must be granted the same rights and respect for natural justice which the party is stressing with regard to Richard Cachia Caruana.
He also reiterated that he will not support the government in the Budget for as long as Austin Gatt is in the Cabinet.
"I had already resigned from the party after the Arriva fiasco and the resignation was not accepted," Dr Debono recalled.
In comments to timesofmalta.com Dr Debono hit out at remarks made yesterday by the prime minister about the duty of MPs who were elected on party lists.
"Members of parliament are not party delegates but representatives of the people elected on the party ticket, which is different," Dr Debono said.
He insisted that their first duty was to the people and said that such comments were precluding him for doing his duty as an MP serenely.
"It is clear, as also shown in today's main story in The Times, that I did well to abstain in the Arriva vote censuring minister Gatt," Dr Debono said.
"The party with its recent decision is not letting me do my work as an MP with serenity and it is not allowing me to respect my oath of office as a member of parliament. My oath of office places my allegiance is to the constitution and the Republic of Malta and not to Austin Gatt.
"I want a clear explanation from the party on what I did wrong in abstaining in the Gatt confidence vote on the Arriva fiasco which had caused enormous hardship to the people. I also want an explanation into what I did wrong when a criticised Austin Gatt's choice of heavy fuel oil for the power station extension to the detriment of the people of Marsaxlokk and Birzebbuga".
"I was not responsible for that fiasco, Austin Gatt was, along with Manuel Delia, who has now been confirmed as an election candidate while I was banned."
Dr Debono recalled that on Bondiplus last January he said with regard to the Cabinet reshuffle that: Il problema mhux min ma dahalx imma min ma harigx"
"Now that the prime minister had the cheek to tell the people not to focus on the banned MPs but on the new candidates, he can ask his new candidates to back him in the Budget," Dr Debono said.