Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is now facing what is probably the hardest problem ever in his time in politics. Besides the constant uncertainty created to his government by Franco Debono, he now faces another possible threat to his Administration’s survival – Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
Following his unsuccessful bid to have Malta’s Permanent Representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana, expelled from the Nationalist Party, Dr Pullicino Orlando has resigned from his party and the PN Parliamentary Group.
True, Dr Pullicino Orlando said in his resignation letter that, out of respect to the people who had voted for him, he intended to continue “collaborating” in the implementation of the measures outlined in the PN electoral programme.
At the same time, however, he made it amply clear that he now expects to be consulted “should any measure which is not specifically mentioned in the electoral programme require my support in Parliament”.
That exposes a frame of mind that indicates that the “independent” MP could very well now withhold support to the government on any issue that he does not agree with.
On the other hand, Dr Debono has also made it abundantly clear that he does not intend supporting the government in the approval of the financial estimates for as long as Transport Minister Austin Gatt remains in the Cabinet.
So, in other words, the two MPs now have the power in their hands. There may even be three, not two, if one were to put into the equation Jesmond Mugliett, who had abstained on the opposition motion calling for the resignation of Mr Cachia Caruana and who has not so far said what is going to be his attitude in Parliament from now on.
On the strength of Dr Pullicino Orlando’s declaration that he intended collaborating with the government, Dr Gonzi has said: “I take note and I move on”. The problem is: Would he in fact be able to move on?
As The Times argued yesterday, he may have every right up to this point to stay on but is it wise? Or is it a case that, as he had done in the issue over the award of a salary rise to Cabinet ministers and, also, in the case of the sharp increase in the water and electricity tariffs, he is misreading public sentiment?
Even though the latest developments have drastically changed the parameters of the political situation, Dr Gonzi persists, wrongly, in dragging his feet. He believes in holding on to the last moment when, clearly, this is counter-productive as the delay could hit the economy in more ways than one. For his party to continue to govern, it has to have majority support and for that he now depends on the whims of two, or, possibly, three, disgruntled MPs.
When, after what appeared to be an agonising period for the party, the PN’s executive committee finally took the bit between its teeth and banned the three disgruntled MPs from contesting the election on the PN ticket, the party’s chances of survival in Parliament were considerably reduced.
Pressure for the party to move against the three MPs had been building up steadily and the PN appeared to have had no alternative other than censuring them in the way it did. In doing this, however, it must have taken full account of the risks involved.
Following Dr Debono’s declarations and the developments over Dr Pullicino Orlando, it seems that Dr Gonzi can no longer buy more time in government without losing more popular support.