Labour will call confidence vote, PN retort: 'Muscat creating instability'

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat has called on Prime Minister to make the 'honourable decision' to call for a vote of confidence in his government, in parliament.

Muscat did not directly say that the Opposition would move a vote of no-confidence, however his appeal to Lawrence Gonzi indicates that the PL will do so if government does not call for a vote of confidence itself.

"In the light of the crisis caused by the Prime Minister's style of leadership, I appeal to the Prime Minister to take decisive action during tonight's meeting of the PN's executive to resolve and not prolong the crisis. If the Prime Minister does not find a solution, then I am ready to carry my responsibility and decide myself, where the Prime Minister fails to do so," Muscat said.

"We will wait for the outcome of tonight's meeting of the Nationalist Party's executive council, and if the Prime Minister does not come up with an honourable solution and call a confidence vote in parliament, then we will take the decision ourselves... at the danger of taking an electorally unpopular decision," Muscat said.

"The Prime Minister has done nothing at all to eliminate instability. Government is dragging its feet and the Prime Minister has shown that his pride comes before the national interest. We have to show sympathy with the real victims of instability; our families and businesses."

Muscat also said Lawrence Gonzi had not done what is normally done in democracies where a vote of confidence would be normal practice where a government majority is threatened. "In reality the more in-fighting and divisions exist in GonziPN, the better for Labour. However I put the national interest before the party's interest, and we cannot waste any more time in stopping the instability," Muscat said.

"Gonzi has a clear choice to make. However he has not done the honourable thing and call for a vote of confidence because he cares more about himself then for the country's stability.

"In light of the crisis I urge the Prime Minister to take decisive action and solve the crisis. The problem is the leadership style of GonziPN. I do things differently. If there is a problem I do not shy away from it. I face it. Therefore, if Gonzi does not take this difficult decision, then I will."

Muscat also said Labour will wait for a vote on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill, a money bill that has the same effect as a no-confidence vote, to fall through and wait for the automatic vote of confidence three days later. But he said a solution should be found as soon as possible. Muscat said that he expects the Prime Minister to call a confidence vote before the bill gets voted on.

In a statement released after Muscat's press conference, the Nationalist party accused Muscat of exploiting the Franco Debono impasse to his advantage.

"The public is clearly showing an election now is not in the country's interest. But Joseph Muscat wants to be Prime Minister so much he is ready to sacrifice the country's interest, use Franco Debono and give in to an extremist faction led by politicians from the past.

"Muscat knows the Maltese constitution is clear: a government is elected for five years and nobody but the prime minister chooses the ministers... this instability is being created by nobody but Muscat by using Franco Debono."