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[Video] Gonzi rallies for confidence, but non-committal on Debono's role as PA
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has called for a vote of confidence in his government next Tuesday, after Transport Minister Austin Gatt was saved by the Speaker’s vote following an abstention last night by Nationalist MP Franco Debono.
4 November 2011, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
1 min read
Addressing journalists soon after the controversial vote, the Prime Minister announced that he had immediately forwarded a request for a vote of confidence to be taken next Tuesday.
“This vote is important to assure the nation of government’s stability in this important time of crisis all Europe is facing,” Gonzi said, adding that he acknowledges that it was Franco Debono himself who suggested for a vote of confidence to be taken soon after his abstention.
However, when asked about Franco Debono’s future as parliamentary assistant within his Office, the Prime Minister said “this is a matter which will deal with later on but it is no up to journalists to speculate on what’s to happen.”
Surrounded by his parliamentary group, less Franco Debono - who left the House soon after the vote was taken - the Prime Minister said that he expects the Opposition to recognise the fact that its motion has been defeated - by the Speaker’s casting vote - but it is important for it to recognise the importance of showing stability in the country “as many nations around us are facing crises and it does not augur that we are stuck on dealing with the public transport reform.”
He acknowledged that mistakes have been done and there is a commitment by government for the situation to return to acceptable levels for the benefit of the nation.
Also commenting after the vote, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat told journalists that the Prime Minister must recognise that he has a problem, “and it is not called Franco Debono but Lawrence Gonzi.”
Meanwhile Transport Minister Austin Gatt left the House surrounded by friends.
SEE PHOTOS BELOW
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The Prime minister is unable to comprehend that a confidence from the Nationalist MPs does no really mean anything to the general public because more then once the Nationalist MPs have said that their loyalty goes for the party and not for those who elected them that are now experiencing heavy delays and inefficiencies as regards the new public transport system or having to pay more and more on Fuels and W&E tariffs because these necessities are over taxed in Malta. The Nationalist MP's have confidence in a government that says that we are good when compared to others but in reality the general public has lost spending power and is still loosing spending power as we speak. Mr Prime minister people in Malta and elsewhere are more interested in their financial situation rather then the fictitious figures published depicting a sound financial situation where no financial situation can be considered as good with a deficit of over five billion euros for a population of half a million people.
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Whose bright idea was it to put a bus stop virtually on a zebra crossing,and this on the narrowest part of Qui Si Sana leading to the Midi Tunnel?. As it is at the moment,pedestrians dare not cross the road and traffic has to wait behind the Arriva buses. It seems that cwicc do not only reside in Parliament.
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After the last election gonzi gave the ex-ministers a hefty sum of money of thousands of euros so they could "integrate themselves in the working world" or so was the excuse.
Now he knows that PL will not so generous wity the people's tax money so that is why he gave himself and the cabinet a €500 weekly increase and wants to stay till the very end.
Because the weekly increase when ounted over 5 years will add up to the money plus more he gave the outgoing ministers.
gonzi is making himself a comfortable retiring package knowing too well nobody will employ him because of his incompetence even big guns like caqnu and zaren.
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The motion did not pass as Dr Gatt voted that he likes himself...LOL. In my opinion, the motion. morally, was upheld. The motion was targeting a specific individual, not a policy, so how could that specific individual himself take part in the vote?
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Yes Mr Prime minister the whole country knows that this motion has been defeated by the Speakers casting vote if it was not the case things might have been different. Even the interpenetration of erskinmay leave a lot to be desired for 70% of those who expressed there opinion by a survey conducted by GWU, which so far I am not aware of anyone challenging this result. Also I do understand the Prime ministers concern re stability of our government, but one has to see where all this is coming from and why are we faced with this instability ? The Prime minister should come up with decent and workable solutions with good quality talent to stabilise this government, also if the prime minister is expecting the opposition to understand the need of a stable government one would expect the prime-minister to do the same and if he is not capable to inject his parliamentary group with some effective reform asap, than he should take up his responsibility and call on an election. That is the only option out if there is not enough talent within his group.
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Shame on Austin Gatt and the PM to accept this mediocrity in the country. Gatt was saved from having to resign only by a procedural clause in the constitution and not by conviction or support of his party's whole parliamentary group.
He should have resigned when his inner soul told him to present his resignation because of gross incompetance, money down the drain, increase hardships on the people and lack of accountability. Only to be stupidly rejected by the PM because it would have harmed the PN.
Franco Debono, for one, should not have any confidence in all this comic tragedy. I really cannot see the logic behind FD's reasoning. Will he be voting to confirm his confidence in a government who tried to out= manouver him and simply ignored the fact that he, Franco Debono, was voicing the concern of so many of his constituents? Will he be voting to show his confidence in, amongst others, Austin Gatt? Because Austin is part and parcel of the government.
Franco, when your standing tall, make sure that you're really counted. Otherwise you'll only manage to make a fool of yourself and those who really had faith in you.
Ian George Walker •
Dr Gonzi should have the guts and the political decency to ask for a vote of confidence from the people who really matter - the electorate.
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GOD WHAT A FRIGHT!!
GONZI IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE BELA LAGOSI!!!
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About yesterday's Vote - this was morally defeated, with the subject of the vote himself voting he has confidence in himself. The result should read 34 in favour, 33 against and 1 abstension.
About Franco - he has balls of steel, consistent and brave, the way great leaders are made of.
About Tuesday's vote of confidence - this will only confirm that 35 people have confindence in the government. The rest that matter, ie, the population, will not participate. Therefore the vote is a joke and has no political value whatsoever.
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"Not that I loved Malta less,but that I loved my' Party' more." ....and so it goes on.
(With apologies to William Shakespeare.)
Luke Camilleri •
Why is Dr. Gonzi calling for a vote of confidence in his government ? Is he not sure anymore?
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Will he be giving his MPS a Free Vote.... or is it wishing too much a secret vote?
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Get dome democracy into the P.N> - Practice what you preach Dr. Gonzi!
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one question that has nothing to do wit this directly.What was simon busuttil doing on Xarabank?there were 1 ad;2 LP;and 5 PN representitives(including Joe Azzoprdi).This programm is always baised
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one question that has nothing to do wit this directly.Why was simon busuttil doing on Xarabank?there were 1 ad;2 LP;and 5 PN representitives(including Joe Azzoprdi).This programm is always baised
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It's not stability that the nation wants, it's ABILITY.
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If you want to a REAL vote of confidence, call an election now.
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“as many nations around us are facing crises and it does not augur that we are stuck on dealing with the public transport reform.” Really Mr.Gonzi, and what is this country facing.? Why dont you start to fix what you and your incompetent government managed to destroy before you pretend to be some international stateman.
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JEKK GHANDEK TWARRAB WARRAB DR GONZI.
JEKK GHANDEK ISSEJJAH ELEZZJONI SEJJAHHA .
DAN LI QED TAGHMEL KOLLU BULLSHIT.
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REBOOT.....Well done yesterday,keep it up.
AUSTIN GATT....You are not even worth mentioning,but resigning is too good for you,you should pay for your costly (millions of euros) stupid mistakes.
GONZIPN....You are just like GADDAFI leading a regime,instructing your MPs how to vote,your PN party used to call MINTOFF a comunist,GONZIPN look at the mirror now.On tuesday your MPs will all vote for you,but it`s a forced vote and worth nothing.
FRANCO DEBONO....You kept your opinion till the end,people admire you for this,pity there was only you in your PN party.
Still at the end of the day people are left waiting for hours at bustops.
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Used to think this PM was good. He was groomed for power but in reality he is not good as a party leader. Something failed in the process. The confidence vote will pass but will not mean a thing except waste of time and money. Today's vote still means that NO ONE is accountable for the disastrous public transport service. It is a disgrace and lack of seriousness!
I believe it would be more honorable for Dr.Gonzi to resign as PM and as PN leader asap and make way to someone who is capable for the job. John Dalli was the right one for the job at the time. Instead of bringing a sense of confidence in the country he is bringing confusion and instability, not to mention the disaster he has thrown his party into.
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Gonzi, the vote of confidence that you should ask for is from the people not from your own MPs'
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This is what you woud do if you had the least bit of decency, but you haven't got the guts to do it.
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Are you going to let the people believe that you are a CHICKEN or are you going to call a general election?
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Dr Gonzi, you said that Austin Gatt was not the only one who took the decisions on the public transport but that it was a cabinet decision
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Therefore there was collective responsibility.
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That means that if you and your cabinet have the least bit of decency you should resign together with your cabinet and cal a general election.
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Do you have the decency and the courage to do so?
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Or are you a CHICKEN and going to chicken out?
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Dear Dr. Gonzi,
You don't need to wait till Tuesday....The majority of people in this country have no confidence in you or your cabinet. Let's hope that come Tuesday the MEN will be MEN and the BOYS will be BOYS!
Now is their greatest moment.
This country needs an election now before we go over the abyss.
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The PL'S MOTION WAS A SUCCESS, NOT DEFEATED DR.GONZI!! YOU WERE DEFEATED THIS EVENING!!! THE SPEAKER IS JUST A CRONY OF YOURS!
