'Prime Minister can convene parliament tomorrow if he wants longer session' - Muscat

Adds government's statement at 6:30pm

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has invited the prime minister to convene parliament tomorrow and debate the Opposition's no-confidence motion, if he wasn't satisfied with the time allotted for the motion to be discussed.

"The motion asks for three hours' debate, which is the same time the prime minister gave for MPs to debate the last motion of confidence," Muscat said.

Earlier today, Labour's deputy leader Anglu Farrugia presented a motion for a vote of no-confidence in government, and a second motion for the adjournment of the parliamentary sitting for Thursday, 19 January at 9am to discuss the motion of no-confidence, and to finish the sitting by 12pm for a vote to be taken.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi dubbed it a 'guillotine' motion for the short time allotted to it.

"If the prime minister wants, both whips can meet and decide to have a sitting tomorrow that runs from 9am to 9pm," he said.

The Office of the Prime Minister said Joseph Muscat's proposal illustrates his eagerness to gain power as soon as possible.

"Joseph Muscat does not want to give his colleagues the opportunity and time to explain the reasons that led to the present situation. Muscat is being disrespectful towards parliament."

The OPM also denied claims made b y Muscat that a money bill was removed from parliaments' agenda. "On the contrary, there are two money bills' on parliament agenda," the statement said.  

In an explanation of his reason to present the motion, Muscat said Gonzi had shown himself trying to cling to power.

"The first reason for this motion is that the prime minister was dragging his feet on calling for a vote of confidence, and tried postponing a money bill during last Thursday's House Business Committee.

"The second reason was Gonzi's decision to go on official business to Qatar, a decision taken this week when the political crisis was already clearly taking place. I cannot understand why the prime minister decided to go abroad and be away on the day parliament reconvened."

On Gonzi's decisions to postpone the money bill vote and go abroad Muscat said "I cannot understand who is guiding the Prime Minister in taking these decisions"

Muscat said his no-confidence motion was in the national interest, and denied having had any contact with backbencher Franco Debono. "We have no contact or direct line with Franco Debono... we never knew of his actions. We never knew what he was going to do and we have no control on his actions," he said referring to the backbencher's withdrawal of support from the government.

When asked whether there has been any contact between the two parties, Muscat was more categorical and denied any contact. He said "There had been no communication between the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party."

Muscat said if the vote of no confidence motion is defeated with the Speaker's casting vote, the situation would still be "untenable for government since a government needs to have a working majority to govern."

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi today cancelled his official visit to Tunisia and Qatar, after the Labour Party today presented two motions in parliament calling for a vote of no-confidence in the government.

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has confirmed he will present a motion of no-confidence against the government, on TVAM breakfast show today morning.

The prime minister announced he had cancelled his plans today in a visit to the Medserv oil bunkering facility in Birzebbuga. "The second motion is a 'guillotine' motion... this procedure doesn't give the chance to MPs to talk. It is something we haven't seen since the days of the Labour socialist government, by keeping MPs' mouths shut and not give them a chance to speak... I hope this anti-democratic behaviour will be reversed."