Debono abstention would not be solution to crisis – Prime Minister

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has indicated yet again he will not be content with a short-term resolution to the current political crisis in the country, if backbencher Franco Debono abstains on the Opposition's motion of no-confidence on Thursday.

"I cannot speculate. I leave the speculations to others," Gonzi told journalists while visiting the Giovanni Curmi Higher Secondary in Naxxar with education minister Dolores Cristina. "I think I was clear enough in my speech last Sunday. My parameters are those I mentioned. They are clear to everyone," Gonzi said in a reference to his address where he said he would seek people's confidence in an election if no solution was found this week.

Gonzi had also said that he wanted his government to fulfil its electoral programme.

Gonzi also criticised Joseph Muscat's opening speech for the motion, saying the Opposition leader never once explained the reason for moving the motion: "I was disappointed with the fact that in his introduction Muscat didn't have the decency to explain the reason behind the motion."

"We have to listen carefully to what is being said in this debate… I'm disappointed with the fact that the Leader of the Opposition did not have the decency to explain why this motion was being presented. It's quite extraordinary that the party in opposition and which aspires to be in government does not have the deceny to explain the reasoning behind this motion."

The Prime Minister said that at this stage it's important to "take it day by day".

Repeatedly questioned over the Debono issue, and what government's way forward would be if Debono abstains, Gonzi said journalists should "stop asking questions about Franco Debono but question what the Opposition's plans are".

Gonzi held a "cordial" meeting with Franco Debono on Sunday. "The door is always open to Franco," he said of the MP whom the party has asked he resign his seat in parliament after calling on Gonzi to resign as prime minister.

Speaking at the PN's Zebbug club last Sunday, Gonzi said he wanted a solution with no conditions attached and to allow his government to fulfil its electoral programme.

"We are not afraid of using the tools of democracy. A resolution taking the country to Thursday's vote will not solve anything. It is not a solution. A solution should be one with no conditions attached to it. I will accept no conditions."

"The solution should be one that allows government to implement its electoral programme. However, if a solution is not found this week, the government will seek the people's confidence in an election even though it is not in the country's best interest," Gonzi said.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono told MaltaToday yesterday that Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi "does not have my support or a majority in the House".

His comments come moments after the rebel backbencher would not rule out abstaining on Thursday's no-confidence motion, when asked by MaltaToday on information that he has accepted not to vote against his government.

Debono insisted on a no-comment earlier in the morning when asked whether he had decided to abstain on the motion, after telling this newspaper earlier in the day that the government's attempts at preserving its grip on power were 'Machiavellian'. Now he is saying the Prime Minister remains dead-legged over support in the House, with his one-seat majority still threatened.

If Debono abstains, the no-confidence motion does not pass since such a motion always requires a majority of MPs supporting it. If Debono doesn't attend parliament, the Speaker would not be able to use his casting vote to vote in favour of the government.