[Watch] Gonzi urges Debono to ‘return seat to the people’

Addressing the media at the end of a two-hour discussion within the Nationalist's Party's executive committee, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi today reiterated a call by his party to backbencher Franco Debono to resign his seat in parliament, after the MP withdrew his support for the government and robbing it of its one-seat majority.

Gonzi tonight welcomed a decision by the European Commission to approve a 40 million euro cut to its deficit, saying it was ironic that the EC applauded his government's efforts to protect the economy "when one of us has got us discussing a crisis we could easily avoid if only he takes the honourable way out by resigning from parliament and return his seat to the people who put him there."

Gonzi hit out at Opposition leader Joseph Muscat who hinted earlier in the day that Labour could move for a vote of no-confidence should it not be called by government, and stated that "it was pitiful to note that rather than seeing what is the National interest, Muscat has opted to take political advantage over the situation and exploit it for his own personal political benefit making him the aspiring youngest prime minister."

The prime minister's comments followed a statement made by the president of the party's executive council Marthese Portelli, who announced the council's decision to ask for Debono's resignation and to refer the issue to the Party's highest organ, which is the general council which will meet in the coming days.

Sources told MaltaToday that the meeting discussed a variety of options including the possibility of the party extending its hand to Debono in a bid to avoid further confrontation but this was preceded by a majority which opted to reinforce the call for Debono's resignation.

There was also opposition for the prime minister to call early elections.

The executive committee meeting followed a parliamentary group meeting held on Tuesday night, which resulted in a statement calling on Debono to resign, while all MPs vowed loyalty to the Prime Minister.

The strong-worded statement called for backbencher Franco Debono's resignation and accused him of being disloyal towards his constituents, the PN and the prime minister.

Arriving for today's meeting, members of the executive committee privately expressed with MaltaToday their intention to urge the party to soften their position with regards to Franco Debono. Not all within the party's executive agree with calling a general election, and this was made clear by MP Beppe Fenech Adami who told reporters on his arrival that he disagrees with an election right now.

Other MPs who arrived for the meeting preferred not to comment, but when asked if he agreed with describing Franco Debono as a "traitor", Minister George Pullicino replied: "There was somebody else on the other side who was once called a traitor."

When asked the same question, party whip David Agius replied that what was said in yesterday's statement following the parliamentary group meeting was self-explanatory and he had nothing more to add to it.

Meanwhile, transport minister Austin Gatt who last Sunday was urged by Gonzi to "prepare to work for the party" was seen entering the PN headquarters some two hours earlier for a meeting with the party's strategy group, which is reportedly preparing for the eventuality of the country being called to the polls.