Franco Debono still rattling Prime Minister’s cage

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has fired a broadside against Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and the legacy of his uncle, Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi, in a Facebook status on the interdiction of the 1960s.

His comment managed to generate both supportive and furious comments in just under an hour: "Lawrence Gonzi please note: no one should be buried in unconsecrated ground (il-Mizbla), not even the dead let alone the living."

In comments posted beneath his original status, Debono then hit out at statements accusing him of bringing instability to the country, after threatening to withdraw his support for the government during the 6 January cabinet reshuffle, saying he wasn't responsible for the filibustering taking place in parliament.

Lawrence Gonzi today held a press conference on the past four years of government's work. 

Contacted by MaltaToday to explain what he meant by his original status, Debono said he was referring to Gonzi's uncle, Mgr Mikiel Gonzi who had issued the infamous Lenten Pastoral instruction of March 1961 - whereby the executive committee of the Malta Labour Party found itself excommunicated, and it was declared a mortal sin to vote Labour, to read, distribute or advertise in Labour owned-papers, and to attend Labour meetings.

This also led to the interdiction of Labour supporters, who couldn't receive the sacraments and, when they died, were buried in unconsecrated ground, the so-called 'Mizbla'.

"It will take years for those affected by the interdiction to come to terms with what they or their relatives and friends had gone through," Debono said.

The MP latched his statement to the present situation in which, he said, the dignity of some people was not being respected, and their aspirations and legitimate expectactions were being "strangled".

"Today, we are living in a state where problems are being swept under the carpet just to buy time. This will keep affecting us years from now and will not be forgotten either. People will look back at this time of uncertainty and realise how much precious time was wasted," Debono said.

Debono was referring to the four-week long parliamentary Easter hiatus and the fact that no vote has been taken by the House since the no-confidence vote on 26 January, which was defeated by the Speaker's casting vote after a tie of 34 votes in favour and 34 votes against.

Parliament has since delayed taking a vote on the Budget Measures Implementation Bill, which must be approved by 14 May. This bill, a money bill, is a potential minefield for the government. Its rejection would effectively nullify the budget measures and could spell the end for the government.

"This delay is only causing uncertainty and instability. I wasn't the one who caused it. I abstained and my position was made clear. I can't understand why government is delaying the votes. My abstention should have given government time to get back on its feet and amend its mistakes. I can't understand why it instead chose to stop parliament for four weeks," Debono said.

He also insisted that he has always been loyal to his party all his life, unlike "a former canvasser of a Labour MP, who contested the fifth district on the PN ticket" - without identifying the candidate in question.

Debono, who had abstained on the no-confidence vote, had previously stated that he would not back government on the budget bill.

But now he is refusing to answer the question. "I have no obligation to say how am I going to vote. At this point the question is irrelevant and the question to be asked is for government to say when it will be taking votes in parliament," he said.