Many people have almost ridiculed the behaviour of rebel Nationalist MP Franco Debono. But I think we are making a big mistake not to analyse its effects.

Franco Debono is making it easier for Joseph Muscat- Joseph Tabone, Ta’ l-Ibraġ

The majority believe that Dr Debono is sacrificing the national interest for personal gain, forgetting the great strides in the economic and financial sector, heath, education, employment and other sectors which Malta has made.

Whether he likes it or not, Dr Debono is making it easier for his rival (Labour leader Joseph Muscat) to become prime minister, while committing political suicide – cutting off his nose to spite his face, as it were. Dr Debono wanted something and the Prime Minister did not give it to him.

Like him, there are thousands who want a job, a promotion, social housing, a building permit... their reaction would be similar to Dr Debono’s: declare they no longer support the party in government.

Dr Debono showed his Form II report to prove he is competent. Like him, there are thousands who state that their father or grandfather was at Tal-Barrani in 1986, when Nationalist supporters were pelted with stones and tear-gassed by the police, that their father was a party street leader in the EU referendum of 2003 or that he is a regular anti-Labour blogger. Was Dr Debono so naive?

Dr Debono is going to force us into an early general election, which, thanks to the Franco Debonosyndrome, the Nationalist Party will lose.