Franco Debono shuns PN executive, as party calls on MPs to save Austin Gatt

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and party whip David Agius emerged from the short meeting announcing that the PN executive had resolved to approve a motion calling on all Nationalist MPs to vote against Labour's no confidence motion in transport minister Austin Gatt.

The motion will say the party and government recognise the importance of public transport reform, and recognised the need for more improvement for the good of the country and the people. 

The PN executive condemned Labour for what it described as "political opportunism" by calling for the resignation of a government minister, but not bring a single proposal forward to improve the service.

Earlier tonight, Franco Debono told MaltaToday that there was "no point" in attending the party's executive meeting, as he had already made it clear that he will not be "coerced" into preparing or proposing any apologetic amendment to counter Labour's call for Austin Gatt's resignation as transport minister.

"It is incredible how nobody is shouldering any form of political responsibility, and rather than following the example of our fellow EU member states, we chose to re-invent the wheel and turn what is clearly a matter of individual responsibility into a collective one," Debono said.

The Nationalist backbencher lashed out at the party's Whip David Agius, for allocating him only five minutes to speak during the debate, while minister Austin Gatt has been given almost an hour.

He considered his five minute slot an "insult" to his declared abstention to the vote, and told MaltaToday that he is also considering not attending the debate.

Speaking to reporters as they entered the PN headquarters in Pieta for a third party executive meeting to decide on amendments to counter Labour’s motion, MP’s David Agius, Beppe Fenech Adami and Francis Zammit Dimech called on Debono to vote with government.

Transport minister Austin Gatt gave no comments as he entered the PN headquarters.

Rural affairs minister George Pullicino praised his colleague Austin Gatt, saying that in six months, "he [Gatt] has managed to change what had never changed in 60 years.”

Earlier today, Franco Debono told MaltaToday that he told Gonzi at the executive committee meeting on Monday evening, that the prime minister should immediately call for a vote of confidence in the government in the eventuality that he abstained on the Labour motion.

“I made it clear that he [Gonzi] would surely get the confidence vote because I made it amply clear that my issue concerns just one minister,” Debono said.

The Nationalist backbencher’s comments followed- up on his reaction to Gonzi’s warning on Wednesday evening, in which he told the annual general meeting of the Nationalist youth movement MZPN that he expected all MPs to vote against Labour’s motion if no agreement is reached on amendments to the motion.

Gonzi has meanwhile called on the Opposition to have Friday’s vote postponed, and agree to the setting up of a parliamentary committee to oversee the public transport reform.

Asked for his reaction, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said the party’s response had been lukewarm. “If Austin goes, we postpone. Fair enough isn’t it?”