As the government steps up its efforts to resolve the political crisis, rebel MP Franco Debono yesterday insisted on the Prime Minister’s resignation or “whoever else is responsible for the current situation”.
So in this country those who make mistakes are not only saved from demotion, they get elevated
The PN backbencher told The Sunday Times that his position had not changed despite the reconciliatory tone being now taken by the PN, as expressed by MP Edwin Vassallo on current affairs programme Xarabank last Friday.
“I resigned two months ago. Do they expect me to come back crying,” Dr Debono charged, insisting that those at fault should resign.
Asked to name those he wanted to see gone, Dr Debono said his gripes had always been with ministers like Austin Gatt and Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici who, according to him, were not delivering.
But he pointed out that the Prime Minister always assumed responsibility for the shortcomings of both ministers and even elevated Dr Mifsud Bonnici to Leader of the House in the recent Cabinet reshuffle.
Dr Gatt, he said, was responsible for the botched public transport reform. He had faced a parliamentary vote of no confidence in which Dr Debono had abstained.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici, who was responsible for home affairs and justice, was relieved of the justice portfolio after Dr Debono’s call for the portfolios to be split.
“So in this country those who make mistakes are not only saved from demotion, they get elevated,” he said, adding that he deemed the “symbolic” position of Dr Mifsud Bonnici as Leader of the House to be “provocative”.
“This, in stark contrast to how the Prime Minister behaves with me,” he said, referring to Dr Gonzi’s recent declaration that Dr Debono should change his position or resign.
“So you can run a ministry to the ground, allow a jail to be overcome by drugs... and nothing happens. But the only sin you can commit is disagreeing with the Great Leader,” Dr Debono said.
Asked if there was any other solution to the crisis, besides Dr Gonzi’s resignation, Dr Debono said: “No... Unless it emerges that someone else took these decisions [for Dr Gonzi] and assumes responsibility. But I assume the Prime Minister was responsible for his decisions.”
Dr Debono pointed out that even before the Cabinet reshuffle he publicly shared his fears that the Prime Minister was being held hostage by a “restricted clique”.
He stressed upon the need for Constitutional reform as well as the enacting of a law on political party regulation, which he had drafted but has not yet been moved.
On January 6, Dr Debono declared he lost confidence in the Prime Minister and would vote against the government if a vote of no-confidence were brought to Parliament, unless the Prime Minister was replaced.
Although Dr Gonzi has shown no signs of stepping down, sources told The Sunday Times that in the past two days the PN had stepped up efforts to resolve the crisis and contact with Dr Debono has increased.
If there is no reconciliation, it is unlikely Dr Debono will support the government when the opposition’s motion of no confidence is presented in Parliament on Thursday. This could prompt a snap election.
Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday said even if the government survived the vote, the instability would continue. However, sources told The Sunday Times that the PN is being advised to delay the election or risk a landslide defeat.