Updated: Austin Gatt dismisses rumours he will quit
Transport Minister Austin Gatt yesterday rubbished speculation that he is planning on resigning his parliamentary seat to appease rebel MP Franco Debono before Monday’s crucial Budget vote.
Dr Gatt dismissed the rumours outright, saying he would “absolutely not” be giving up his seat in the coming days and he invited those spreading such rumours to “sod off”.
Dr Debono has repeatedly said he will be voting against the Budget as long as Dr Gatt forms part of the Cabinet.
Following through on that threat in Monday’s vote will force a general election since the Budget is considered a vote of confidence and the Government holds a one-seat majority.
However, the Transport Minister had already announced that he would not be contesting the next election, ending a parliamentary career that has spanned four legislatures and three ministerial portfolios.
DEBONO REACTION
In a reaction, Dr Debono said that this has nothing to do with appeasement but with shouldering of political responsibility, which is not only in line with the principle of political accountability but also in line with the Prime Minister's most favourite declaration as of late that everyone must shoulder responsibility for their actions.
"If this had applied to Minister Austin Gatt he should have resigned long ago after high utility bills, BWSC, Fairmount, Arriva, ARMS and car parks scandals-cum-fiascos," Dr Debono said.
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Vince Taliana
Dec 7th 2012, 20:29
Tghid Agostino Pio qed 'jitlef hafna irqad' fuq dan kollu? Boq.
Igota Schlong
Dec 6th 2012, 20:43
The Photo shows Dr Gatt is all Ears, he does hear, .... or does he?
Trevor Lorenzo Mizzi
Dec 5th 2012, 22:00
You have to admit that Austin Gatt has star quality.
Bernice Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 15:11
Oh the irony of reading this while on the bus!
j brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 14:54
Ormai it's now troppo tardi!
Let him enjoy his few remain days in Parliament!
What can be said of this man is that he does not have that 'Midas' touch!
(jb)
Mr Joe Cardona
Dec 5th 2012, 14:50
Ma jirrezenjax. Ahjar biex nhar it-Tnejn jigi sfiducjat flimkien ma' Gonzi PN.
Din l-istqarrija turi li Dr Franco Debono ghandu ragun mija u wiehed fil-mija.
A Caruana
Dec 5th 2012, 14:45
Do us all a favour dear Austin and GO - sooner then later, all you have touched especially ARMS, ARRIVA and smart city begins with a lot of trumpet blowing and fanfare and fizzles out into nothing.
Michael Seychell
Dec 5th 2012, 14:40
Rest assurerd that had the PN or Minister Gatt were to give in to Franco's request, the Ghaxaq Laywer, would than ask for the resignation of another Minister or else he will vote against the Butged. I believe that this person will never quench his thirst.
Michael Seychell Tal-Pieta
Charles Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 15:21
Why is this Nationalist MP behaving in such a manner? non political and sensible answers please?
Jean Pierre Fava
Dec 5th 2012, 14:38
The Rubicon is a billion light years behind us
GL Calleja
Dec 5th 2012, 14:30
I don't believe that anybody expects Austin Gatt to resign, on the contrary.There is no way on earth that Austin Gatt will give in to Franco Debono, never a doubt. With that established the question still remains. Will Franco Debono,definitely knowing that Austin Gatt will not resign, vote against the budget?Or will he chicken out like he did once before and let Austin Gatt have his way once again
Jean Pierre Fava
Dec 5th 2012, 13:46
The Rubicon is a billion light years behind us
Marco Pisani
Dec 5th 2012, 13:32
What does Austin Gatt has to say about the problems our natioanl airline Air Malta is facing? Nothing? Besides that his son is taking care of AIr Malta's website. What a shame.
Marco Pisani
Dec 5th 2012, 13:28
Austin Gatt declared that he is not interested in contesting the next general election. However, before his political career comes to an end, Austin Gatt must should responsibility and pay for all the wrong doings conducted by him.
AG owes an apology to all Maltese people . Franco Debono will emerge triumpanth and with his head high he can say that he was not afraid of AG's arrogance.
Lawrence Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 13:58
HE WILL NOT QUIT BUT HE SHOULD..
A Tonna
Dec 5th 2012, 12:59
Break the circle and stop the movement
The wheel is thrown to the ground
Just remember it might stop rolling
And take you right back around!
The Mob Rules (Black Sabbath)
George Calleja
Dec 5th 2012, 12:51
Sewwa taghmel Dr.Gatt, qatt m'ghandek tirrezenja biex tpaxxi lil Franco Debono. Int se jkollok l-unur tghid li tlaqt mill-parlament META RIDT u mhux ghax int mkecci mill- partit! Wara nhar it-Tnejn FD ikun parti mill-istorja!
Ronald Zammit
Dec 5th 2012, 13:45
U wara nhar it-tnejn Austin Gatt u il klikka ta' Gonzipn wkoll ikunu parti mil -istorja !!! L'ebda Simon jew xi "Haruf" iehor mhux ser inessi l'arroganza u it tahwid ..disgwit...frejjeg....u prajoritajiet hziena ta l'aministrazjoni ta' Gonzipn li tilef kull KREDIBILITA mal maggoranza tal poplu Maltiu Ghawdxi !!
Kenneth Williams
Dec 5th 2012, 14:05
Sewwa taghmel la ghad baqa xi tmexmex...int asset kbir....ghal PL!!!
I Mercieca
Dec 5th 2012, 16:30
Ronald u Kenneth......
U intom il-fanatici tal-MLP tafu seww x'hinu Austin Gatt, ghax tahtu tkaxkira wara l-ohra hadtu u ghadkom sal-lum taqilghu iz-zrar minn go darkhom LOL
Ethelbert Schembri
Dec 5th 2012, 12:29
Instead of hiding his arrogant face, he is declaring that he will keep on imposing his arrogance on us all.. And after the election he already secured his arrogant legacy and will keep on imposing himself on us but this time like RCC behind the scene pulling strings to the PN puppets.
Vote PN and you will be imposed upon RCC and Agostino Pio!!
Fran Abela
Dec 5th 2012, 12:28
Dr. Gatt will go down in history as a do-er. Admittedly his way of doing things is at times aggressive and he cannot stand fools so he might give the impression that he is arrogant. If what he has achieved so far is through arrogance, then I look forward to more arrogant people. I find that people who are percieved to be arrogant garner more respect than people who are goody goody.
Mr Emanuel Farrugia
Dec 5th 2012, 12:26
@ Hons. Austin Gatt [champion]
No sense of teamwork.
Team work is actually the collective effort of each and every team member to achieve their assigned goal. No member can afford to sit back and expect the other member to perform on his behalf. The team members must be committed towards their team as well as their organization to avoid conflicts.
Emanuel Farrugia - TARXIEN
Andrew John Mercieca
Dec 5th 2012, 12:02
The behaviour of dr. Debono vis a vis the pn has been disgusting. Voting against the budget will confirm this.
Joseph Zahra
Dec 5th 2012, 12:02
Igri tasal l-elezzjoni, biex nghidu, "xi darba kien hemm xi deputat Franco D." dalwaqt tintesa siehbi. "Hadd mhu ikbar mill-partit."
Franco Attard Trevisan
Dec 5th 2012, 13:41
Il -pajjiz hafna ikbar mil-partit siehbi!
Luciano Chetcuti
Dec 5th 2012, 11:56
IT'S GOOD TO BE THE KING.
Mr Gatt never had it so good. How can anyone believe he will resign?
HENRY FENECH AZZOPARDI
Dec 5th 2012, 12:17
Austin Gatt will resign the moment an electiion is called. This was his declaration. Franco Debono will not dictate to Austin when to resign. If Franco opted, for his own personal agenda, to attach the budget with Austin Gatt it is his problem and responsibility. Using Austin as an excuse to vote against the budget would still be recorded as Franco brought the Government 4 weeks before. Bigdeal
Fran Abela
Dec 5th 2012, 12:30
We do believe he will resign. There are many who never had it so good and this applies to all parliamentarians. Some are outspoken, others are just hypocrites.
Mr David Ganado
Dec 5th 2012, 13:11
Why should anyone believe he will resign when he never said he would?
Justin Brincat
Dec 5th 2012, 11:55
I very much hope my message will not be censored otherwise we are not living in a country where we preach about the freedom of speech.
According to Franco Debono the last part of his right of reply was not produced in this article. I read his right of reply on his blog. It is not in any way libellous so why was it censored?
Mr Anthony Briffa
Dec 5th 2012, 11:47
The political responsibility stands four square on FD's shoulders as his allegiance should have always been towards his voters and to the PN Governent. The voters who voted him to parliament instead of Helen D'Amato and Louis Galea, next Monday night will feel the full slap on their faces should he goes along with his threat. FD will walk out of parliament for the last time, head down in shame.
MT Caruana
Dec 5th 2012, 12:20
Head down in shame??????? Why? He is the only one who stood up to your PN .....heheh ohh no you are so wrong, he will walk out of there head high, knowing that he destroyed his political carrier cause he was never understood by his party, and cause he has BALLS!!!
Joe Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 12:33
Really? His allegiance is to just his few voters and the PN government? Whatever it does? How ridiculous....A politician's allegiance should be to the country's people....The Good , the bad and the ugly affects everyone not one side or another... What you are saying would be tantamount to FD being held to ransom just for his voters.... Makes sense to you?
S. Bonello
Dec 5th 2012, 13:04
Think for yourself Mr. Briffa !!!
I for one wish Franco Debono was in my electoral district so I could vote for him.
We need more people like him !!
And no shame for Austin Gatt ?? Hallina Sur Briffa. This election is long overdue !!
Victor Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 11:46
The roots of evil in the PN are so deep that nobody will penetrate them unless the people of Malta do something to save democracy.
Sean Swain
Dec 5th 2012, 12:18
...he says as he types on his computer/laptop/tablet with a nice coffee in his heated and comfortable office/home...
Cut the dramatics, it doesn't impress anyone.
K. Vella
Dec 5th 2012, 11:32
10 days more and Franco will be history....ofcourse a BAD HISTORY episode in dictating what fits his ambitions....
Franco you lost the whole plot...Addio Franco...
MT Caruana
Dec 5th 2012, 12:17
@K.Vella
Addio PN ridt tghid!!!
Giovann Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 13:31
Mr Vella, jekk izomm kelmtu, Franco Debono ser jibqa' mnizzel fl-istorja politika ta' Malta bhala l-unika persuna li kellha l-hila tieqaf ghall-arroganza tal-Gvern Nazzjonalista - infatti, jekk jigri kif imhabbar, Lawrence Gonzi ser ikun mexxa l-ewwel Gvern Nazzjonalista li kellu jieqaf hesrem wara vot ta' sfiducja fil-Parlament. Punto e basta.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 11:25
Dr Franco Debono should rinse his mouth with a strong antiseptic every time he asks anybody else to shoulder political responsibility. He will soon be given a resounding condemnation of his own way of shouldering responsibility towards those who voted for him in the last general election provided, of course, that he rashly presents himself as a candidate for the impending general election.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Dec 5th 2012, 11:52
Yes you're right!! Austin Gatt should not shoulder any responsibilities. Nobody should care about ministers making repeated mistakes. This is something to be taken foregranted!
Hallina Dott!
At least one person stood up for him even though he demolished his political career to do so. Franco's only mistake is that he abstained back in November 2011.
J Martinelli
Dec 5th 2012, 13:13
@ Joe Borg
No other minister tackled more difficult issues than Austin Gatt. Yet he is expected to shoulder responsibility for someone else's mistakes? Why, because Labour doesn't like him?
Do you know that contracts are awarded by an autonomous authority, not the Minister?
With regard to Debono, the NP and indeed the nation owe absolutely nothing to him except perpetual political obscurity.
Joe Borg (Senior)
Dec 5th 2012, 13:44
@J Martinelli .. are you living in a ghost town? Most PN wants this arrogant minister out! Why even your future expected leader, Dr.Simon Busuttil, doesn't stick 5 minutes with him alone!!
Joseph Grech Attard
Dec 5th 2012, 11:24
Good luck and good riddance Dr. Gatt. He is retiring to conform with what the newely-elected deputy-GonziPN leader said recently i.e. that the people want change of faces not of policies. However, in Dr. Gatt's, ex-martyr of tal-Gakkette Blu, case, policies need to be changed drastically too!!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 11:41
Haven't you learnt yet that the Gakketta Blue accused were freed by the law courts from the lying accusation that you are imputing to them and to Dr Austin Gatt? When will you remove your blinkers? Never?
Joe Muscat
Dec 5th 2012, 12:38
Yes Dottor, The Law courts never fail to impress...
J Martinelli
Dec 5th 2012, 13:22
Yes, it must have been those tal-Gakketta Blue who burned down The Times, ransacked the Courts and Curia, terrorized EFA's family, burned NP clubs, shot Raymond Caruana dead.....
You have no reason to point your finger at tal-Gakketta Blue. What did you call your thugs and hooligans?
Shall we name Labour Ministers and leaders, living and dead who backed Labour thugs abetted by the Police?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Dec 5th 2012, 14:07
@JoeMuscat
Presumably you are suggesting that the Labour Party dirty tricks propaganda machine is the sole fountain of truth. Sorry to disagree.
W. Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 14:46
When will you remove yours Francis!
Reuben D. Spiteri
Dec 5th 2012, 11:19
Honestly I think that Dr. Gatt's actions could cost the PN the election. If he went and resigned (not for FD, but to shoulder responsibility or, as the PM said, to help with the coming campaign) people would probably thing a LITTLE better of him and by extension the party. Are a few months' worth of pay that important for a minister? Is there a pension involved or something?
m. borg (slm)
Dec 5th 2012, 11:17
Could Austin Gatt or the PM for that matter what they mean by saying "...shoulder their responsability".
In the case of Gatt he has no idea otherwise he would have resigned 3 years ago over the BWSC fiasco and gonzi has been very cryptic about what he means by it.
Is threats on Franco's Debono life part of this " ....... shouldered responsability"?
Eddy Privitera
Dec 5th 2012, 11:40
M. Borg: Dr. Gonzi always repeats the words " Everyone must shoulder their responsibilities", but he NEVER shoulders his !
scott brown
Dec 5th 2012, 11:16
Dr. Gatt fought shoulder to shoulder with eddie fenech adami and guido demarco to restore back democracy when malta was under the socialist threat of the 80's. that is what i remember austin gatt for. something most people are taking for granted. franco debono and joseph muscat had the privilege of private schooling and alas a good 2C certificate thanks to austin gatt and his stamina.
Mr Andrew Camilleri
Dec 5th 2012, 12:55
You are correct in what you say. But you need to add that Lawrence Gonzi has dismantled the NP and is a threat to parliamentary democracy because of all the goings-on in parliament avoiding a vote so that he can stay on in power. He has also overseen the complete takeover of PBS by nationalist die-hards, rendering it once again a servant to the party in government.
J.C. Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 11:06
"everyone must shoulder responsibility for their actions" I understand the PM included Dr Debono too. He did a lot of harm to Malta.
Dr Gatt, like the PM, is expecting Dr Debono to shoulder the responsibility of making the PM ask for an election a few months before it is actually due.
I prefer the so called 'arrogant' Dr Gatt than the 'dictator' Dr Debono, (Dictatorship not oligarcy!!!!)
m. borg (slm)
Dec 5th 2012, 11:19
I can't see how Debono could be labled a dictator with no sort of administrative power in his hands, it is a stupid statement.
On the other hand regarding Austin Gatt's ARROGANCE, birds of a feather flock together Mr JC Borg
Alfred Cauchi
Dec 5th 2012, 11:25
Well all that you said is dictatorship , so you want all MP to be like an angel statue with the poke in their ars .
Why not heard what J P O. Said yesterday about the bad energy that gonzipn infected PN back bencher for the last 4 years . For sure you are a blue eye boy and your pocket is full , not like many other Maltese that are doing 3 jobs to gear up with all expenses needed
J.C. Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 11:47
@ m. borg & Alfred Cauchi - have you been following the news this last year to know the treaths of Dr Debono?? "Either you do that or...????"
Enough said.
J Martinelli
Dec 5th 2012, 14:03
@ m borg(slm)
Yes, dictator because he is using his parliamentary seat to hold govt. hostage.
@ A Cauchi
No one expects MPs to be 'angel statues'. Look at the three rebels and examine their respective roles and come up with one reason why the NP should keep them.
@ JC Borg
Are you surprised that Debono would have received a threat? Had he done the same to the LP he may have gotten worse.
M Calleja
Dec 5th 2012, 10:59
I wish this country have a lot more politicians of the high calibre of Austin Gatt.
W. Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 11:07
Your definition of high calibre really worries me!
Mary Ann Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 11:37
W Cassar: Sure, you are used to the astronomical calibres of Lorry Sant, Anglu Farrugia and Solv-It-All Joseph
Eddy Privitera
Dec 5th 2012, 11:47
M. Calleja: You mean the " highest calibre" of ARROGANCE ! 90% of voters agree !
W. Cassar
Dec 5th 2012, 14:36
As they say two wrongs don't make a right Mary.
Plus I don't know why you think Im a Labour supporter lol
Paul@ Micallef
Dec 5th 2012, 10:20
The above correspondent Bertrand Borg made a big mistake when he wrote that the Government have a one seat majority. The Government do not hold a majority because Mr Pullicino Orlando is no longer a PN member of Parliament but an independent one. The fact that he is in a coalition with the government do not change the real number of how many MP's the PN have in Parliament.
Joseph Scerri
Dec 5th 2012, 09:55
Sur Borg, ill-Kunsill apparti li ghamillna protesta fit-toroq, ahna l'hin kollu ghaddejien halli naraw fhiex u meta dan l'imbierek progett mhux li jitkompla imma li jitlesta. Il-ministru Austun Gatt f'mistoqsijja parlamenteri mid-deputat Chris Agius fuq il-progett dan wiegeb lix-xoghol ser ikompli f'Jannar li gej minhabba l'festa. Tal-misthijja, minghajr rispett ta xejn lejn l'Bormlizi
twanny borg
Dec 5th 2012, 10:46
@joseph scerri - nemmen li l-kunsill ghandu jaghmel presjoni akbar. ezenpju jorganizza privates b'xejn ghal protesta fil-belt. pero li hallejt barra huwa li l-kunsill qabel mall-progett. kif tista' taqbel ma' progett fejn fuq iz-zewg nahat tat-triq hadd ma jistax isir ipparkjar ghax ma sarux parking bays. din qatlet lil tal-hwienet u l-kummerc kollu ta' bormla. hadd ma jista' jieqaf jixtri.
twanny borg
Dec 5th 2012, 10:50
il-bormlizi aktar kienu jkunu kuntenti li din is-sena jitlesta l-progett u l-festa tigi posposta. xi hadd ghandu jerfa r-responsabbilta ta' dan il-fjask u jirrezenja. mhux sewwa l-gvern ried dan il-progett u minhabba xi hadd dan ma sarx fi zmienu.
joseph debono ross
Dec 5th 2012, 17:50
U ringrazjaw l-Alla li gvern Nazzjonalista almenu beda xi haga u xi darba titlesta. Il-gvern tal-Labour fi zmien is-Salvatur . X`qadd ghamlu ghal Kottonera ??
JMDebono
Joseph Borg
Dec 5th 2012, 09:44
We're experiencing the beginning of the end of the nationalist party. Say no more!
Fran Abela
Dec 5th 2012, 12:24
Mr. Borg - that should read the end of the nationalist party in government - most certainly not the end of the nationalist party. Heaven forbid we should end up with one political party.
twanny borg
Dec 5th 2012, 09:37
ma tarawx li austin gatt jirrezenja!! l-akbar mistrih tieghu meta fd jivvota kontra l-budget u jerfa kollox f'kaz ta' telfa. austin gatt ghamel affarijiet tajba pero l-akbar haga hazina huwa x-xatt ta' bormla fejn jekk ILLUM xi hadd imur bormla ma jara ebda haddiem jahdem f'dan is-suppost progett. li jiskantani il-kunsill ta' bormla li qabel mall-progett u ma jiprotestax kif imiss kontinwament.
TONY FORMOSA
Dec 5th 2012, 10:05
Borg you forgot what Austin Gatt did for the PN first as head of Elcon then as Secregtary General and as a Minister.FD should tell us how he compares with Austin Gatt and what he did for the PN loyal members who have lected him.
TONY FORMOSA
TONY FORMOSA
Dilindo W Agius
Dec 5th 2012, 11:09
@ Tony Formosa - Sur Formosa, qed tinsa xi haga fundamentali ghal dan l-argument. Dan ma huwiex l-istess partit li g-gilidna ghalih fit-tmeninijiet! Austin dak iz-zmien kien hbieb ma kulhadd, issa hbieb ma ta gewwa biss.
Ridikolu l-fatt li ma jridx jirrezenja ghax issa ghandu penzjoni garantita tal-Parlament u tal-Gvern meta tasallu u tlett snin paga ridotta! u int qed tghix tajjeb bil-penzjoni?
Carmel (Nenu) Aquilina
Dec 5th 2012, 11:10
Prosit Tony Formosa, naqbel 100% miegħek!!
Austin Gatt għadu u jipqa kolonna soda tal-PN bħal ħafna u ħafna oħrajn!.
m. borg (slm)
Dec 5th 2012, 11:21
May I ask why you have to add you name three times Mr Formosa.
Eddy Privitera
Dec 5th 2012, 11:51
Nenu Aquilina. Zommuh lil Austin Gatt - GARANZIJA ta' gvern laburista ghal " 20 sena ohra", kif ihobb jghid Austin Gatt !
Joe Busuttil
Dec 5th 2012, 14:09
@m.borg (slm)......Perhaps Mr Formosa is emulating APG and thinks he is worth three of ordinary us . Hope he doesn't have three votes too.
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