MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando yesterday divorced himself from the Nationalist Party, leaving Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with what Labour described as a “coalition partner” in Parliament.
“I take note and I move on,” said a brazen Dr Gonzi, minutes after Dr Pullicino Orlando handed him a resignation letter in which he promised to “collaborate” in Parliament on the government’s electoral programme.
Coalition governments are very rare in Maltese political history and this is the first to go by that description since the island gained independence in 1964.
Labour leader Joseph Muscat immediately said Dr Gonzi should call an election, describing the situation as a hung Parliament which is leaving families and businesses hanging too.
“The tail is wagging the dog. I expect the Prime Minister to assume his responsibilities. People did not vote for a coalition government. They voted for a Nationalist government that is no more. GonziPN effectively came to an end today,” said Dr Muscat, pointing out that Dr Gonzi’s one-seat majority was more vulnerable than ever.
The Labour leader, however, was reluctant to commit to calling a vote of confidence, saying the ball was in the Prime Minister’s court, though he warned that matters would continue to deteriorate.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister vowed to govern to the end, prolonging a chess game which began last year in which at least two government MPs have threatened the government’s tenure while stopping short of pulling the plug.
Dr Gonzi too has consistently refused to call an election unless he is forced to, pledging not to make the same mistakes as former Prime Minister Alfred Sant in 1998.
Dr Pullicino Orlando, who this week failed to convince his party to expel one of its important strategists and Malta’s former EU Ambassador, Richard Cachia Caruana, met Dr Gonzi at PN headquarters at 6 p.m.
The dentist gritted his teeth and dealt yet another in a series of blows to Dr Gonzi, who, as Dr Muscat later pointed out, was elected on the “pretence” that he offered a safe pair of hands.
In a meeting that lasted just under an hour, Dr Pullicino Orlando gave the Prime Minister a resignation letter which said he was acting “with sincere regret”.
“My reason for doing so stems from the fact that I do not feel comfortable militating in a party which has been hijacked by Mr Cachia Caruana and (Transport Minister) Austin Gatt. Without detracting from the attributes both these individuals may have, I do not subscribe to their way of doing politics.”
Dr Pullicino Orlando, who earlier in this legislature forced divorce legislation onto the agenda and won the backing of the public in a referendum, said he was no longer a member of the PN’s parliamentary group.
He said he would inform the Speaker of his resignation and meet him to discuss the way forward.
Out of “respect” for the 5,100 constituents who elected him on the PN ticket, he said he would respect the clear mandate they honoured him with and “continue to collaborate in the implementation of the measures outlined in the PN electoral programme for 2008”.
“Given the circumstances, I expect to be consulted by you should any measure which is not specifically mentioned in the electoral programme require my support in Parliament. This onerous decision should not, in any way, be interpreted as a reflection of the respect I have for you on a personal level, which remains unaffected.”
Dr Pullicino Orlando gave no further comments to the press.
Addressing a press conference at 7.30 p.m., Dr Gonzi said he took note of Dr Pullicino Orlando’s decision but would move on with his electoral programme, ensuring he consults the independent MP where necessary.
Dr Gonzi said the Whistleblower’s Act was a “priority” for the government, as was the law on the protection of cultural heritage. In the coming days, the government will also publish three laws on cohabitation, IVF and Parliament’s autonomy.
The government would in the coming weeks finalise the pre-Budget document and prepare for Budget 2013 scheduled for November, he added.
Decisions to come would all be made according to the country’s interest, he said, adding that he had a “duty” to continue fulfilling the electorate’s mandate.
Asked if he would consult the President, who is currently on missionary work in Peru, Dr Gonzi said he did not feel the need to because Dr Pullicino Orlando agreed to support legislation.
Meanwhile, asked whether the Speaker should reconvene Parliament – which is in recess till October 1 – Dr Gonzi said he would leave the decision up to Speaker Michael Frendo.
Dr Gonzi refused to comment about “hypothetical” situations regarding the other two MPs, Jesmond Mugliett and Franco Debono, who were recently crossed off the PN’s candidate list together with Dr Pullicino Orlando for disobeying the party whip. He also refused to say whether he thought Dr Pullicino Orlando should have resigned his seat in Parliament rather than stopping at a resignation from the PN.
Dr Gonzi was asked about his meeting earlier in the day with EU Health Commissioner John Dalli, his former leadership rival, who requested the meeting to talk to the Prime Minister about some of his gripes within the party.
The Prime Minister described the meeting as “positive” and “constructive”, saying he would work on some of the points raised by Mr Dalli, who was Dr Pullicino Orlando’s main witness on Tuesday when the party discussed the motion to expel Mr Cachia Caruana. Although Mr Dalli did not corroborate Dr Pullicino Orlando’s allegations, he complained about being targeted by PN officials working under instructions.
Party sources said Mr Dalli talked to Dr Gonzi about his e-mail having been hacked and his suspicions that people from within the PN could be involved.
But for the time being, Mr Dalli remains the least of Dr Gonzi’s problems. It now remains to be seen whether the other two dissenting MPs will take Dr Pullicino Orlando’s cue and unshackle themselves from the party whip.
Meanwhile, AD chairman Michael Briguglio called for an election date, saying the political situation was causing too much uncertainty and “postponing the inevitable” would only make matters worse.
Asked for his views on the new situation during a Mosta council activity last night, Mr Dalli said the situation in which the government found itself in was a flimsy one but his reading of the situation was that the government was now in a coalition and it therefore still had a majority in Parliament.
The fact that Mr Pullicino Orlando had resigned from the PN parliamentary group meant he was now more free to take decisions according to his conscience, he added.