The Nationalist Party’s executive council is today expected to discuss the opposition motion calling for the resignation of Transport Minister Austin Gatt over the Arriva fiasco after backbencher Franco Debono insisted the issue was placed on the agenda.
Dr Debono has said he would abstain on the vote in Parliament on November 4 unless Dr Gatt shouldered his responsibilities.
He has dismissed appeals not to embarrass the government saying it was ministers who should be careful not to embarrass the government. “Ministers are accountable to the public and to Parliament and cannot simply expect blind irrational support and rely on party loyalty.”
Although the executive council was scheduled to convene today for a routine meeting , Dr Debono made a formal request for the matter to be placed on the agenda.
This is the second embarrassing vote facing Dr Gatt in less than two years. Last year, Dr Debono had also voiced criticism on the Delimara power station extension due to its use of heavy fuel oil but fell in line when it came to a vote, which was also called by the opposition. Dr Debono is likely to face some flak at today’s meeting since his sustained criticism of various aspects of government has irritated several of his colleagues.
Nationalist MPs and other party officials may take the opportunity to criticise the reform that has been publicly derided from day one. In fact, a number of MPs are said to be highly critical of the bus reform, though not all have spoken publicly.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando voiced concerns recently but did not say how he would vote and the Prime Minister’s brother, Michael Gonzi, said the reform turned his hometown St Paul’s Bay into a “prison” and was worse than the old system.
Dr Debono insisted yesterday he would abstain in the vote on the motion despite Saturday’s press conference where Dr Gatt admitted blame for “over-ambitious” choices made regarding the bus routes and announced an overhaul.
The Labour’s motion calls for the resignation of Dr Gatt, his political appointees and Transport Malta’s top management.
Asked whether he was seeking Dr Gatt’s resignation, Dr Debono referred to the constitutional convention of “individual ministerial responsibility” practised by governments which, like Malta’s, were based on the Westminster system.
“The doctrine of individual ministerial responsibility, as opposed to the collective Cabinet responsibility, is intended to ensure a minister shoulders responsibility without embarrassing the government... Party loyalty is not an excuse for ministers to ride roughshod over everyone, including Parliament. Political parties are not band clubs. They do not operate in a vacuum. They function within a constitutional set-up,” he said.
“Party loyalty also means a minister shouldering responsibility not to embarrass colleagues and the government. That is also a form of party loyalty, after all.”
He said ministers generally resigned, instead of embarrassing the government. “In fact, it would be highly irresponsible of a minister, knowing he was embarrassing the government and egoistically staying on, dooming the whole government.”
“Ministers make policy decisions and administer public funds. They must be very diligent in administering their portfolio,” Dr Debono said.