The Nationalist Party’s three chastised MPs have refused to say whether they will support the government until the end of its term, exposing the precariousness of an administration that has 12 weeks before facing Parliament again.

I should have voted against Austin Gatt- Franco Debono

Asked by The Sunday Times whether they would bring down the government when Parliament reconvened, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett refused to comment.

Franco Debono said he would not support a government which retained Transport Minister Austin Gatt, who he now regrets having not ousted when he had the opportunity to do so.

The reluctance of the three MPs to quell uncertainty shows a marked change from their recent stances when they said they planned on supporting the government.

When Dr Pullicino Orlando had voted against Malta’s EU representative Richard Cachia Caruana, he made it a point to say he would continue backing the government till the last day.

Mr Mugliett also indicated he would do the same, suggesting, even until last Thursday, that his loyalty to the government should not be measured simply on his abstention against Mr Cachia Caruana.

Meanwhile, Dr Debono had pledged his full support to the government less than three weeks ago, saying he gave his word to the Prime Minister and he would stick by it - days after he voted with a Labour motion to oust Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

Debono contests action

Contacted yesterday, Dr Pullicino Orlando simply said he preferred not to comment, while Mr Mugliett said he was not in the mood of going into “anything hypothetical”.

“If Parliament meets, it meets,” he said, refusing to elaborate.

Dr Debono said he would do “whatever is necessary to re-establish full democracy”, accusing his own government of having moved from an oligarchy to “totalitarianism” and saying he would contest the PN’s disciplinary action against him.

Dr Debono also lashed out at Dr Gatt for saying during last Thursday’s PN executive meeting that the backbencher’s candidature should not be accepted because he had abstained in a motion of confidence against him.

“He shouldn’t have even spoken because he is an interested party. But now we are in a situation where the person responsible for the Arriva fiasco is a candidate, but the person who objected is not,” Dr Debono said, referring to Dr Gatt’s right hand man Manuel Delia.

“Tell me if this is not strong totalitarianism,” he said, blaming everything on the “incompetence” of Dr Gonzi and his constant defence of “bad ministers”.

Dr Debono said Dr Gatt should have resigned back in 2002 when he was Justice Minister and the Chief Justice and a Judge were caught being bribed in 2002. More so, after the BWSC and Arriva fiascos during this legislature, Dr Debono said.

Asked whether he regretted abstaining when he had the chance to oust Dr Gatt in a motion of no confidence, Dr Debono said: “Yes, I regret abstaining. I should have voted in favour of that motion.”

However, he refused to say whether he would cause the collapse of the government or continue to abstain on important votes.