Updated | Muscat says PL is the underdog

Updated with Franco Debono's statement at 9:45pm

"The situation should never have reached this point," said Opposition leader Joseph Muscat on tonight's edition of Xarabank on TVM.

Muscat said "We believe the crisis should be solved next week. Hopefully the two parties will reach an agreement to take the vote of no-confidence on Wednesday, if not the vote will be taken on Thursday."

"I will not tell Lawrence Gonzi or Franco Debono what to do. Franco Debono is not the cause of the political crisis. Debono's parliamentary seat belongs to the people and the onus is on him to respect the people's will," said Muscat  

Asked why he called for a vote of confidence, Muscat said "I told the Prime Minister to take vote of confidence for the sake of the country's stability. Franco Debono should do as his conscience dictates for the sake of the country's well being, as Dom Mintoff did in 1998."

On the similarities between the 1998 political crisis and now, Muscat said "The difference between 1998 and now is that then Prime Minister Alfred Sant took a decision whilst Gonzi is shying away from taking a decision. Sant put the country's interest before that of the party. Gonzi did the same during the Libyan conflict but he has not done so during the recent political crisis."

Muscat said "If government manages to postpone the vote or win the vote of confidence, nonetheless the situation is bad. Gonzi's cancellation of his trip to Tunisia and Qatar was premeditated in order to play the victim. I could have sat on the fence and looked on at the PN's in-fighting. I take the responsibility for the two motions presented this morning."

Muscat said if the people grant him other responsibilities he will be ready to do so. "The real survey is on election day as people change opinions during electoral campaigns." Muscat denied the claim that he is expecting to win the elections easily and said the PL is the underdog in the eventuality of an early election as it lost six out of the last seven elections.

He said he expects to be criticised on the press and internet of being opportunistic and irresponsible for calling a vote of confidence. "There is no good reason to prolong the crisis. I believe that Labour is capable of governing the country better that GonziPN," Muscat said

He added that during the last three years Lawrence Gonzi's government has been afflicted by consecutive problems such as the St John's Cathedral issue and others problems such as the honoraria, BWSC, Arriva and other issues.

"We have a government which is uncertain whether it has a majority in parliament or not. In contrast all Labour MPs signed the divorce bill. This government is unsustainable because it does not have a working majority," he said

Muscat expressed his agreement to Franco Debono's arguments on the separation of the Justice and Home Affairs ministries. "The real reason for the recent political crisis is not Franco Debono but GonziPN's style of leadership."

Asked whether the country needs an election now, he said the country cannot sustain instability. "Gonzi can postpone elections but cannot avoid them." 

Franco Debono, speaking on Xarabank stated he is a victim of a bad political system. He said major constitutional reforms were needed to strengthen the country's democracy.

Debono said "Political parties need to be regulated and the country needs to carry out reforms in broadcasting, the electoral system and party financing for the sake of democracy."

"I have been loyal to the Prime Minister for ten years. I have not called for Gonzi's resignation because of the Cabinet re-shuffle but for democracy." he said. The maverick MP revealed that during the 2004 PN leadership contest he had voted for Gonzi. 

Debono said the PN is the party he loved for many years but it is dragging its feet and creating problems it cannot solve.

PN backbencher Edwin Vassallo invited Debono back to the party and said he would be welcome. Debono retorted by saying that he appreciated the invitation to continue working within the PN but the party should be more sensitive both the people and within the party itself.

Debono also said that he had given his PN a plan on how to tackle the trapping issue with the EU but once again his proposals were ignored. When asked what will happen next week, Debono did not commit himself and invited everybody to follow the parliamentary debate.