Updated | Franco Debono says media should seek answers from PM, minister

A miffed Franco Debono has told the media to seek answers from Home Affairs and Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici over the reform of the judicial and criminal system, after attention this morning turned on his Rome holiday.

Reacting to MaltaToday's report of his departure to Rome, Debono insisted that he had a right to a private vacation with his partner, "just like Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had a right to his holidays at the Girgenti Palace."

Debono is in contact with PN secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier after having said he would not support government in parliament unless Gonzi splits the home affairs and justice ministry as he had allegedly told Debono he would.

"It is not about me, Franco Debono... it is an issue about justice, the law courts, the prisons, the police and so on. So turn your questions to the Prime Minister and minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici who are the ones who hold the answers to everything," Debono told MaltaToday.

Debono reiterated the alleged promise by the prime minister to split the ministry before the end of the year. "If we had an agreement about it, then so be it."

Debono recalled his private member's motion which called for a series of reforms in the criminal system, tabled last month. "Did anything happen since then? Did the justice system improve? Has the police force shown any progress in the way it works? I will let the people judge for themselves, rather than ask on what Franco Debono is doing."

Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono left Malta to travel to Rome yesterday evening, leaving behind him a government and party in crisis after he warned he would not support government in parliament unless Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi "keeps his word" to split the justice and home affairs ministry.

Debono, who has made judicial and legal reforms a major personal cause, left the island despite a series of telephone conversations with Gonzi over the past days.

MaltaToday is informed that no progress was registered during the telephone discussions, with Debono reportedly leaving it to the Prime Minister to decide on implementing reforms in the justice system and police force.

Debono insists his vote with government at the beginning of the month to approve the justice and home affairs' 2012 financial estimates, was on the basis of the PM's promise that the ministry would be split.

The promise was allegedly made by the Prime Minister to Debono over the phone on 1 December, and later made public on Net Television.

As days went by, Debono dropped yet another bombshell when he announced during Christmas week that Gonzi might as well call an election, as he was not prepared to support government.

Senior government sources told MaltaToday that should there be any changes within the justice and home affairs ministry, this will be done "at the right time".

Another controversy in the offing was prompted by Debono's revelations to MaltaToday that he had been accused by Marsaxlokk PN activist Hermann Schiavone that he was the source of anonymous accusations made against Schiavone in 2003, preventing him from contesting the general election.

Debono's statements led the PN this week to publicly declare Schiavone was not a party candidate and that he was directed "not to present himself as one."

Debono claimed he was annoyed that the PN administration had never taken any action to either publicly condemn Schiavone for his allegations. "This matter has eroded my health, and I suffered for months in silence since I am not outspoken."