Gonzi says reshuffle 'in national interest', Franco Debono withdraws support

Additional reporting by Matthew Vella.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said he will not to answer to Franco Debono's "individual opinion" on his Cabinet reshuffle, insisting his decision to promote three parliamentary secretaries to ministers and cut minsters' parliamentary honoraria was done "in the national interest."

"I am answering to the country's priorities," Gonzi said.

New minister Chris Said said his intention was to collaborate with Franco Debono on criminal justice reform (listen to recording).

Nationalist backbencher Franco Debono said the new cabinet reshuffle that has promoted Lawrence Gonzi's parliamentary secretaries to ministers was a reshuffle "within the ruling clique" of Gonzi's government.

Although saying he was pleased with the split of the ministry for justice and home affairs, which has come largely upon his demands, Debono was disdainful of the reshuffle itself.

"If this is the ruling clique, I won't support government. I want to live in a democracy, not an oligarchy," he told MaltaToday.

Asked what he meant by not supporting the government, Debono said: "They can deal with the March elections themselves," he said referring to the PN's campaign for the forthcoming local council elections.

Asked whether he had expected to be made justice minister, having campaigned vigorously for policy changes in the criminal justice field, Debono said he never had expectations.

"I never expected anything. That is the prime minister's decision."

But Debono noted that he had been responsible for the eventual policy change. "The people have me to thank, seeing how I had to go through all that I passed from," the backbencher said of the vicissitudes leading up to the cabinet reshuffle.

Debono said he was not aware of the cabinet reshuffle and was not consulted on any prospective policy changes concerning the justice and home affairs portfolio.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will split the justice and home affairs portfolio held by Carm Mifsud Bonnici since 2008. Mifsud Bonnici will be home affairs minister, and take local councils and become Leader of the House - instead of deputy prime minister Tonio Borg.

Chris Said has been made minister of justice and social policy, the latter responsibility taken from Minister Dolores Cristina's family affairs portfolio. Cristina will now be minister for education.

Mario De Marco is promoted from parliamentary secretary to minister for tourism, environment and culture, as is Jason Azzopardi from parliamentary secretary to minister for small busness, lands, consumers and competition.

The new line-up is not expected to inject fresh talent into the frontbench, but serve as a palliative for the onerous demands made by backbencher Franco Debono - the MP said he would withdraw his support for government in parliament unless Gonzi keeps his promise to split the home affairs and justice ministry, a matter of principle for the MP.

Debono insisted that the split was necessary given the conflicting roles of the executive and judiciary within the ministry. He has also called for a series of reforms within the justice system and the police force, and has tabled a private members motion for parliament to legislate on a list of reforms.

Mifsud Bonnici will retain the home affairs ministry, and will probably inherit Chris Said's responsibility for public dialogue and local councils.