Parliament, as expected, last night approved a motion of confidence in the government, which Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had himself moved. Though welcome, as it strengthens stability, the vote merely serves to confirm what all those with eyes to see and ears to listen already knew: confidence in the government is not the real issue.
True, there have been instances when the government’s performance left a lot to be desired – the way the hike in utility rates was introduced and the manner in which the rise granted to Cabinet members was handled are two cases in point. However, the government excelled when the going got really tough. The international economic crisis and the turmoil in nearby Libya have definitely been two huge challenges the government handled beautifully.
So there needs to be a distinction between confidence in the government and trust in individual members of the Administration and of Parliament and, also, those appointed to handle national projects.
Dr Gonzi sought to prove his government still enjoys the support of the majority of the House after a motion of no confidence in one of his ministers – Austin Gatt – was defeated only thanks to the Speaker’s casting vote. This was necessary because Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono abstained, insisting the minister should have shouldered his responsibility over the bus service reform fiasco. If he felt so strongly about it, one can only wonder why Dr Debono did not vote against.
Rather than a problem of confidence in the government this is an issue of whether and how should a Cabinet minister shoulder responsibility if something under his wing goes very wrong. Not to mention the issue of how a dissenting government MP ought to behave.
So this is a matter of credibility in individuals. Of how such individuals should be held responsible and accountable for their failings, misdeeds or whatever.
On a party level there are – or should be – internal structures to handle such situations. Will the Nationalist Party be willing to move motions of censure and sanction against Dr Gatt and Dr Debono, for different reasons of course? If the PN felt it should publicly reprimand a person who claimed to be an electoral candidate before being approved as such it must surely be worried by the fact that an MP embarrasses the government in Parliament and a minister lets the rest of the Cabinet down. Does the party general secretary consider this to be such an urgent matter that it should be raised at the general council later this month?
Last night’s vote puts paid to any doubts as to whether the government enjoys confidence but it does not allay fears about credibility, leadership and unbridled dissent. These are issues Dr Gonzi must tackle and settle, for – and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat should understand this before accusing the Prime Minister of wasting time on internal party matters – he needs to have his house in order and functioning if he is expected to be able to concentrate on the bigger national issues.
The worst that can happen is that this latest episode sends the message that the Cabinet can approve a reform which, then, does not work and a minister refuses to carry the can. The Cabinet collectively assumes responsibility for the reform per se but not its actual implementation. That is an individual minister’s responsibility and Dr Gatt, for one, knows that only too well.
Dr Gonzi and the PN are wrong if they think last night’s vote solved all their problems.