Franco Debono must either toe his party’s line on matters that do not run against objectively basic principles or the convenient “conscience” factor or else have the guts and the manhood to resign his parliamentary seat.

Either he toes the line or else he is expelled from the PN Parliamentary Group, come what may- Austin Sammut

We well know that members of Parliament are elected both on the basis of their individual qualities and capabilities as well as that of the famous “party ticket” issued to them by the political party they have freely chosen to stand for election with.

People like Dr Debono have no chance of being elected to Parliament (at least in this country) without a “party ticket”. Accordingly, he must observe the Nationalist Whip throughout the five-year legislature (unless given a free vote by the Prime Minister at his sole and absolute discretion) or just leave the House completely

Dr Debono seriously risks not being endorsed or even accepted by the PN at the next election, even if he takes up the party Whip. Then he will not be elected to Parliament. His only option is to retire from politics or join the Labour fold, which is accepting all and sundry.

If his obviously far-reaching and very expansive ambitions (which have no limitations and I know one or two of the same sort) are to be achieved, he must join the PL. It would not be the first time that MPs or party candidates crossed the lines and entered opposing bunkers but Dr Debono (and I say this as a supporter of his exuberance and enthusiasm nonetheless) must stop his particular behaviour now if he wants a political future with serious and responsible people. Otherwise, the Prime Minister should throw him out of the PN Parliamentary Group, releasing him from the Whip and let him wallow and whimper as an independent MP, possibly in cohort with the opposition.

I recently participated in a One TV discussion programme dealing with the Austin Gatt “vote of confidence” on the transport situation, which was being discussed in Parliament at that very moment. I just asked whether Dr Debono had spoken with the opposition regarding his stand on that vote (that is abstaining).

The TV presenter called him (behind my back, may I say) during a break and Dr Debono fought back and denied that he had any contact with the opposition on the issue.

He said he had been told that I accused him of a “konfoffa” (plot) with the PL, having not followed the discussion himself. This was not the case because I had only mentioned “contact”. Today, I think that my comment may very well have been appropriate.

Having said all this, Dr Debono should know better and should be a gentleman and not act the way he is acting. I happen to agree, like many others, that the portfolios justice and home affairs should be split up. If this had to happen, it should not be regarded as a slight with regard to Carm Mifsud Bonnici, but part of a general reshuffle (and, as I have had occasion to mention before, there are good candidates as new ministers, particularly in the parliamentary secretary group). But how dare a backbencher, elected as a loyalist to PN and its leader, threaten that leader and Prime Minister? The latter has bent over backwards to appease his backbenchers and, particularly, Dr Debono. He has come up with the insignificant post of parliamentary assistant, for example, of which Dr Debono is one in the Prime Minister’s very own office at Castille.

I say enough is enough. Either he toes the line or else he is expelled from the PN Parliamentary Group, come what may.

I have known Dr Debono through the newspapers for a number of years as a fledging, successful and, no doubt, well-connected lawyer. I have admired his presence as a criminal trial lawyer in our courts. I have met him in the streets and restaurants of Valletta when I was still practising in the city. I enjoyed discussing a number of issues with him and we had also agreed to meet up purposely for an exchange of ideas.

But now something has gone wrong! And what has gone wrong cannot be tolerated. How can the Prime Minister be dictated to by one backbencher?