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Mifsud Bonnici plays cautiously and says nothing of Debono’s demands
Home Affairs and Justice Minister could see his ministry split over backbencher’s demands to Gonzi.
30 December 2011, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
2 min read
Carm Mifsud Bonnici: I have nothing to say... and I thank you for wishing me a happy New Year.
Home Affairs and Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici is refusing to be dragged into the controversy surrounding his biggest critic, Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono, and the demands he is placing on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to split his ministry.
Mifsud Bonnici's stewardship of Malta's judicial and criminal system became Debono's new bug-bear, as the criminal lawyer used the courtroom to stage vocal protests on its shortcomings.
But Mifsud Bonnici is refusing to comment on Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's acceptance to split the justice and home affairs ministry, following a private member's motion and public insistence by Debono.
Contacted this morning at home, Mifsud Bonnici insisted on a no comment on Debono's demands to see his portfolio split in half - an indictment on his record since being appointed a minister in 2008.
He also refused to answer a question on whether he has an opinion about the expected split in his ministry, or if he discussed the matter with the Prime Minister.
Transcript of the telephone conversation:
MaltaToday: Minister Mifsud Bonnici?
Carm Mifsud Bonnici: Yes?
MT: How are you? I wish you a happy New Year... Minister I'd like to ask you for your comments about the expected split of your ministry...
CMB: "I have no comment to make..."
MT: No comment?
CMB: "Yes, I have nothing to say... and I thank you for wishing me a happy New Year."
MT: But you really have no comment to make?
CMB: "I don't..."
MT: Do you have an opinion about the expected split of your ministry?
CMB: "I have no comment to make..."
MT: Have you spoken about this with the Prime Minister?
CMB: "Look, I have already said that I have no comment to make. Thank you.."
Franco Debono on Wednesday left Malta to travel to Rome, 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 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.
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."
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MALONKI, INT FEJN QIEGHED, 'L HEMM JEW 'L HAWN? IN-NAZZJONALISTI MA GHANDHOM L-EBDA DON SPECJALI BIEX IMEXXU, ANZI, ISSA QEGHDIN NARAW ZBALJI KBAR ISSIR AKTAR MILLI SARU FIS-SNIEN L-IMGHODDIJA. ZBALJI LI L-EFFETTI TAGHHOM MA JINHASSUX MILL-EWWEL IMMA MAZ-ZMIEN, BHAD DJUN KBAR FIL-PAJJIZ U L-KORRUZZJONI. IMMA L-AKTAR DIFFETT IKRAH LI GHANDHOM TAL-PN HUWA LI GHALL-POTER U, KONSEGWENTALMENT, IL-FLUS LI JGIEB MIEGHU IL-POTER, HUMA LESTI JAGHMLU KOLLOX. U META NGHIDU KOLLOX, IFISSER KOLLOX.
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Kull min qara l-kummenti tal-bravu ex-segretarju tal-PN fuq il-gazzetti llum biex gonzi jcedi lil franco debono halli gonzi u l-klikka ta' madwaru jibqghu jixxalaw minn fuq dahar il-poplu u ma jkollhomx iwarrbu, ghandu kull ragun jitkaza. Ghall-PN id-dinjita ma tezistix - lesti li jservu ta' tapit jew ta' bicca tal-art BASTA JAGHMLU HILITHOM LI L-BORMA JLAQQTUHA SAL-AHHAR. Ghax, kif tafu, Alla lin-nazzjonalisti halaqahom biex imexxu (u jmaxtru) u biex iservu l-pajjiz; il-kumplament tal-Maltin (inkluzi l-laburisti) qieghdin hemm semplicement biex jirromblaw fuqhom ..... ghax jekk tnehhi lin-nazzjonalisti, kif jghid kantant taljan, tutto il resto e noia !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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MELA HEKK SEW. IL-PRIM GHALL-VAGANZA IL-GIRGENTI. FRANCO DEBONO X'IMKIN L-ITALJA. U CARM CICCI BEQQI U NO COMMENTS. POVRU POPLU. X'TAHWID U MIN JAF X'BUZZULLOTTI QEGHDIN ISIRU MINN WARA DARNA F'ISEM ID-DEMOKRAZZIJA U L-LIBERTA'? MA NAFX JEKK GHANDIEX NIDHAK JEW NIBKI. IMMA MINISTRU LI QIEGHED F'NOFS KUMMIEDJA BHAL DIN U JGHIDLEK NO COMMENT, VERA DAN IL-KABINETT SAB IL-QIEGH ISSA. NISPERA IS-SOLUZZJONI MA TKUNX AKTAR SPEJJES U NFIEQ MILL-GVERN BIEX SEMPLICIMENT JISSODISFA LIL TIEGHU.
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I think Gonzi now has 2 problems ,one with Dr Debono the second is with Minister Mifsud Bonnici & family and may be third one with Cabinet. Although the choice of ministers is descition ONLY of the Prim Minister but I am sure that Cabinet is not happy with the situation. First was Austin Gatt (I think he deserved it) Now Carm Mifsud Bonnici ma jqattax blat but he is a good guy. Who is next?????
If Gonzi wants true respects he should act as Prim Minister and call Debono's bluff as Josie Muscat told him.
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Tghejd mhux ser immur inhallas xi 20 ewros sabiex nara xi Patomima li hawn bhal issa. Qeghed insegwi l-isbah Pantomima li ghawn ghal din is sena. Igri jasal nhar it tnejn halli nara kif ser tkompli. Mela sa issa l-istorja qeghedha hekk. Jekk il P.M. jaccetta li jaqsam il Ministeru, ser jidher ta dghajjef. Min naha l-ohra jekk Franco jirtira ser jidher ta dghajjef.Issa jekk il gvern ser jerga isalva bil vot ta l-ispeaker ser jidher gvern bazwi, mhux "healthy" ghal pajjiz. Issa il ballun qeghed fin nofs u ahna il poplu qeghedin nistennew bil herqa sabiex naraw x`ser jigri....Nispera li ma ikunx hemm xi membru min naha ta l-oppozizjoni li ma jattendiex meta ikun il waqt ghax ikun " sick "bl`ikel li ser nieklu f`dawn iz zmienijiet.
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If Dr.Gonzi accepts Dr. Debono's demands, it would make him lose respect and credibility. Such decision would show his weakness and confirms that he is not in control. But what will happen if he recejts it? Will Dr. Debono stand by what he said? I doubt it! Bla Bla Bla ....
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Mister know all who knows nothing.
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Biex tissolva din l-krizi li nqalat fi hdan il-gvern mistenni li fis-sieghat li gejjien il-gvern "JOFFRI" post ta'SEGRETARJU PARLAMENTARI LIL FRANCO DEBONO fl- istess Ministeru ta'Carm Mifsud Bonnici.Mistoqsija>Franco Debono se jecceta?
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Malta kollha titkellem fuq il-kummiedja li ghaddejjin minnha l-PN u l-ministru fil-qalba tal-istorja jghid "no comment". Il-Prim ministru jidher li qieghed kwiet ukoll, izda Dr Franco minghandhom iridhom it-twegibiet. Hekk qal il-bierah. Nisperaw li tal-PN mhux se jistaqsu lil tal-PL kieku huma kienu fl-istess sitwazzjoni x'jaghmlu, ghax hekk saret il-moda issa. ....Jekk ghandkom ghal qalbkom il-gid tal-pajjiz tafu x'ghandkom taghmlu.
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There is no choice for Gonzi. He either gives in to the ultimatum of Franco or else must divide the ministry to the humiliation and no doubt resistance of of CMB.
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Il-ministru carm Mifsud Bonnici kompla kkonvincieni li l-prim ministru ghandu tal-inqas ultimatum iehor ma dak ta' Franco Debono. Imma dan l-ultimatum sar fil-privat, bejn ministru jew ministri u l-prim ministru, li jekk icedi ghal dak li jrid Franco Debono, dan il-ministru jew dawn il-ministri jirrizenjaw. Jekk hux minn ministru/ministri jew mill-parlament, ma nafx !
Eddy Privitera
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I pity the Minister, what a humiliation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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How can one say indictment? Don't you remember CMB as Parliamentary Secretary in charge of justice and then promoted to the Ministry? Why now after eight years? Kemm ninsew malajr jew naraw kbir????
