Franco Debono says election result shows disapproval of PN

Nationalist MP Franco Debono declined to comment on the trust ratings published yesterday by MaltaToday in which Debono's trust increased among Labour voters but decreased among PN voters.

Debono told MaltaToday that he cannot comment because "one has to compare the trust rating with that of other ministers and MPs."

However, the 'rebel' MP said that the local council results, particularly in the fifth district, Debono's home district, showed that the heavy losses suffered by the PN "was not a disapproval of me but a disapproval of the PN.” He added that the results also "reflect the problems in the Cabinet of ministers." 

Birzebbugia, Marsaxlokk, Safi and Zurrieq were the localities in the fifth electoral district to hold local elections on Saturday. The PN lost its majority in Safi to Labour and suffered heavy losses especially in Zurrieq where the PN lost 1047 when compared to the 2008 round.

In regards to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi's re-election as PN leader last month, Debono said that the PN councillors who voted for Gonzi with an overwhelming majority "seem to be out of touch with the people's reality" when compared to the local election results.

"The law on parties and party financing which I drafted calls for more transparency in the way parties are run. It also includes a proposal to have parties registered with the Electoral Commission which would oversee internal elections within political parties," Debono said.

Debono said that the PN has destroyed its "not so conservative wing" which he says was previously represented by former deputy PN leader and President of the Republic, Guido de Marco.

Debono, who considers himself to be part of this faction, said the "disappearance of this not so conservative wing" meant that the PN lost part of the electorate who identified itself with it.

"The PN lost this segment which could decide which way an election goes and the Labour Party is making inroads in this part of the electorate," Debono said.

On the other hand, Debono had no hesitation in expressing his surprise at the outcome of the survey results published in yesterday's MaltaToday which included a question about who should replace Lawrence Gonzi as PN leader.

Debono said that he was "positively surprised" by the result especially since he was mentioned and compared to other politicians. He added that he was also pleased because "the respondents mentioned my name without being given the option to choose my name."  

The Ghaxaq MP came in at third with 5.9% among all respondents, behind Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil and Tourism Minister Mario de Marco.

Debono also noted that he performed particularly well within the group of respondents who voted PN in 2008 and pointed out that he is placed above Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg and Finance minister Tonio Fenech.