An agreement or an election

The country therefore remains in political limbo, and a way must now be found to re-establish stability. The only way forward is either a durable agreement between the Prime Minister and Franco Debono, failing which a general election must be called.

As a result of Thursday's vote, the room for manoeuvre for both Lawrence Gonzi and Debono is now limited. The prime minister can call an election or carry on in the knowledge that, following last Thursday's abstention, Debono will most likely refrain from voting the government out of office at the earliest opportunity.

What is certain is that the Prime Minister cannot ignore Debono or dismiss his reforms. The stand-off does create a golden opportunity for long overdue political reforms to be introduced. For this to happen, the question that Debono needs to answer is: what are his priorities? To push through these reforms? Or to insist on Lawrence Gonzi's head?

We sincerely hope that Debono's agenda remains the reforms he has proposed, which - if and when implemented - will secure him a place in history, regardless of his immediate political future.

This newspaper has advocated many of these reforms for years. They are reasonable, progressive and completely in sync with our editorial policy. They go far towards establishing a participative democracy where citizens - rather than the political parties - are placed at the centre of political activity.

Meanwhile, however, the impasse must be overcome as it is now fast exasperating a tired electorate.

The prime minister may go to his general council to get approval by his party but  rounds of applause and songs of praise will not in themselves resolve the crisis. Gonzi's difficulties are not with the party per se, but with Debono: whom he can only ignore at his peril. Equally restricted is Debono's room for manoeuvre. The calling of an election will leave him powerless, a non-candidate with no platform in parliament to keep fighting for the reforms.

He would be ill advised to insist on the resignation of the head of government or one of his ministers as conditional to an agreement. Yet again, we ask: is this about reforms or all about wanting the prime minister to resign?

Debono risks overplaying his hand. Further still, he risks losing the popular support, which his reform programme has undeniably ignited.

An agreement between these two antagonists will bring immense benefits to the country. It represents a golden opportunity and quite possibly a once-in-a-lifetime chance to really see structural political change. Neither of the two political parties is likely to introduce these changes on its own, whatever the outcome of the election.

The reforms will regulate the parties, and make them more transparent and accountable. It will expose the source of funding behind both parties.

Other aspects of Constitutional reform may have to wait until after the election, but are of equal and in some cases even greater importance. A reformed electoral law will ensure that each vote counts - contrary to the present wasteful system. A reformed broadcasting law will ensure that Public Broadcasting Services really becomes the voice of all the people, as one would expect from a serious national television station, and not merely the voice of the government of the day.

Elsewhere, a culture of resignations can also ensure better governance, where ministers become more accountable to parliament - and above all face real consequences in case of failure to deliver, unlike the present scenario.

These reforms are all in the national interest, and what's more they are (theoretically, at any rate) within easy reach.

But they cannot be made to wait indefinitely. In the background, the clock is ticking inexorably. The economic situation in Europe carries serious considerations for our country, which cannot be simply ignored while government drift along rudderless. That is why an agreement between the opposing factions within government is so critically important: it will allow government to carry on implementing its own programme, while focusing on the proposed reforms and keeping its eye on the worsening economic situation.

If, however, the two protagonists cannot reach a durable agreement, then the country should go to the polls without delay. An election will put an end to the political crisis.