Nationalist MP Franco Debono is in Italy on a brief private trip, two days before the deadline he imposed on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to split the portfolios in the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry.

Coming only days after he threatened to migrate to the neighbouring country and at a time when open communication was crucial, the trip heightened tension within the party, sources said.

But Dr Debono said the Nationalist Party officials, including the Prime Minister, who is also meant to be taking time off at his official summer residence in Girgenti, had been informed of his three-day vacation.

“It’s a very short private visit, related to health problems my girlfriend and I have been through in the past months,” Dr Debono said yesterday, adding that he would be back on New Year’s Eve.

“Kindly appreciate the private aspect of this visit,” he said, pointing out that his trip had nothing to do with the statement he made recently that he was considering packing his bags and moving to Italy because of the ongoing political situation.

Dr Debono took time out of his short vacation to respond to comments made by former PN candidate Hermann Schiavone yesterday, who was himself responding to a statement by the PN.

Following a public complaint by Dr Debono, the PN chastised Dr Schiavone for claiming to be a candidate and for having in the past made an unsubstantiated allegation about Dr Debono.

Dr Schiavone has pledged loyalty to the party and insisted he would continue making house visits since the possibility of him being selected as a candidate remained open.

“His comments indicate he has not yet realised that an unfounded, baseless and completely false allegation not only caused harm to my health and to the party in whose name I have been elected but is also illegal,” Dr Debono said.

He said the allegation was even more serious considering it was made to the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Edgar Galea Curmi.

Dr Schiavone had told Mr Galea Curmi that he suspected Dr Debono was responsible for an anonymous letter circulated in 2003 claiming wrongdoing by Dr Schiavone, who was then forced to withdraw his candidature. Dr Schiavone had meant to contest on the same district as Dr Debono.

The PN refused to react to Dr Schiavone’s comments and declare whether Dr Schiavone could still be a PN candidate in the next election and whether his house visits were welcomed.