The Nationalist Party has stood by its decision to condemn the three rebel MPs despite fresh objections raised by Franco Debono who says the executive committee had no authority to discipline members.

Dr Debono said it “must be annulled” because, according to article 50 of the PN statute, cases of discipline must be dealt with by the administrative council not the executive.

The executive meets again today with a view of possibly escalating the condemnation of Dr Debono, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett.

Dr Debono quoted part of the statute which says that “in any (disciplinary) action taken by the administrative council, the person against whom the action is taken shall be given adequate opportunity to present his defence”.

This, he said, was a principle of natural justice that he had been denied, with the executive having made its decision while he was in Parliament speaking on his own motion on reforms in the justice sector.

Dr Debono said the motion he presented to Parliament on the regulation of political parties recommended the establishing of an internal disciplinary board to maintain party discipline.

The members of the board should not be members of the executive committee of the party or its branches, nor should they be employees of the party but independent people who were not subject to the direction and control of any person or authority.

When asked for a reaction to Dr Debono’s claims, a party spokesman said the executive committee “stands by its decision”.