Three government MPs were yesterday banned from contesting the election on the Nationalist Party ticket.

Backbenchers Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Franco Debono and Jesmond Mugliett were accused of falling out of step with the party whip on a number of occasions in this legislature.

After a meeting that lasted just under two hours, the PN executive unanimously voted in favour of a motion put forward by the party’s administrative committee to stop the MPs from presenting themselves as candidates.

Announcing the decision at a press conference after the meeting held at PN headquarters, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi insisted this “was not an expulsion”. He said the MPs had to shoulder responsibility for their actions.

Dr Gonzi added the decision would strengthen the PN.

The straw that broke the camel’s back came last month when Dr Pullicino Orlando voted with the Opposition to oust Malta’s EU envoy Richard Cachia Caruana. Mr Mugliett had abstained on that motion.

Before that, Dr Debono had voted with the Opposition to force the resignation of former Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

Asked whether the decision could create problems for the government in Parliament, Dr Gonzi said it was up to the MPs to decide how to behave.

“I hope we will be able to move ahead with the government’s legislative programme that includes important laws on in-vitro fertilisation and cohabitation,” he said.

In a surprise appearance, former PN leader and President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami also attended the meeting. “It is my right,” he told journalists on his way out, without commenting on the proceedings. Sources said he did not speak during the meeting.

The decision represents an escalation on a condemnation of the three MPs two weeks ago by the same executive. However, it has no consequence for Dr Pullicino Orlando and Mr Mugliett, who had declared, months ago, that they will not be standing as candidates in the next general election.

The decision does put a spoke in Dr Debono’s wheels. A few weeks ago the MP went on record saying the Prime Minister had asked him to re-contest the election with the PN, despite the way he voted on the Mifsud Bonnici resignation motion.

Dr Gonzi had denied making such a commitment and yesterday avoided the controversy when asked about it. “What counts is the executive’s decision,” he insisted.

And in a further twist, the executive also unanimously approved a list of 60 election candidates, including 10 new ones. The new candidates include Transport Minister Austin Gatt’s right hand man, Emanuel Delia, who will be contesting on the fifth electoral district that elected Dr Debono for the first time in 2008.

Party sources described the meeting as very cordial but said the approval of election candidates was a sign that an election would probably be held in the autumn.

Dr Gonzi played down the significance of the candidates’ list, insisting it was “normal” for a party approaching its last year in office to start approving its candidates. The list is not final.

However, sources noted it was uncharacteristic of the PN to approve candidates so early in the day. The latest an election can be held is June next year.

Reacting to the decision yesterday night, Dr Debono said it reflected badly on the PN’s democratic credentials. “I had declared that I was prepared to sacrifice my political career. But I have no regrets over what I did.”

Dr Debono pointed out that he resigned from the PN in January and it was the party that did not accept his resignation.

The MP said he did not know what he would do in Parliament from now on. “It will be very difficult for me to support a government where Austin Gatt is still in Cabinet, notwithstanding the public transport and power station fiascos, and when Dr Gatt was the most vociferous in asking the executive to ban me from contesting the election.”

Last year Dr Debono had abstained on a resignation motion involving Dr Gatt over the minister’s handling of the public transport reform.

The decision did not come as a surprise to Dr Pullicino Orlando, who insisted it was a mistake to have an escalation of the situation before the executive discussed his allegations that Mr Cachia Caruana colluded with Labour government officials in 1996.

The executive yesterday decided that the allegations will be dealt with at a special sitting next Tuesday where Dr Pullicino Orlando will present his case and Mr Cachia Caruana will be given the opportunity to defend himself. “This is putting the cart before the horse,” he said, adding he would continue to focus on Tuesday’s meeting. “I am positive the executive will be obliged to expel Mr Cachia Caruana from the party.”

Dr Pullicino Orlando said he was looking forward to a time when after the next election, he would be able to stand on the PN ticket once again “when the clique within the party is hopefully removed”.

Mr Mugliett said the decision did not make much difference to him since he had already said he would not be contesting. “I explained to the executive that loyalty was not measured on the basis of one vote,” he said.

There had been several votes, Mr Mugliett added, where he had difficulty in following the party line but had done so even though time proved him right as was the case of the ministerial pay and honoraria issue.

“I only abstained in the Cachia Caruana motion, which was not properly discussed in the parliamentary group and did not involve any issue which was in the electoral programme. In that vote I took into consideration the dignity of Parliament before the party,” Mr Mugliett said.

One would have to see what would happen in Parliament, he added, but the electoral programme and loyalty to constituents were important considerations.