The hush that fell over the House as Franco Debono stood up to be counted

It was with some with surprise, if not outright disbelief, that MPs and journalists yesterday evening witnessed Nationalist MP Franco Debono voting in favour of the Opposition's motion for the resignation of Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

The rebel MP floored critics and killed months of speculation over his intentions by voting for a motion which was met with the instant resignation of the home affairs minister, and a new motion of confidence called by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for next Monday.

In his resignation letter, Mifsud Bonnici thanked Gonzi for the confidence he had shown in appointing him minister, having occupied justice and home affairs since 2008 before the ministry was split in a cabinet reshuffle back in January.

"I can declare that in the last four years I was loyal to my oath of office and I always carried out my duty with the utmost responsibility," Mifsud Bonnici said, after having delivered a four-hour speech in which he did not beat about the bush about his achievements while in office.

"Unfortunately, some MPs did not understand well enough the commitment the ministry I led required, and for that reason I am submitting my resignation with immediate effect."

Gonzi thanked Mifsud Bonnici, saying his dedication to his office had been inspirational and informed by "strong and sane values".

The prime minister has now taken responsibility for home affairs and local councils, and appointed deputy prime minister Tonio Borg Leader of the House.

Yesterday evening, Franco Debono made a hasty departure from the House, later telling The Times he will not be voting against the government in the vote of confidence called by the prime minister, and even in the Opposition motion calling for the resignation of permanent representative to the EU, Richard Cachia Caruana.

In a press conference, Opposition leader Joseph Muscat remarked that the prime minister's majority was experiencing an implosion he had already predicted back in January.

But when the vote was taken at 7:30pm, journalists, guests in the Strangers' Gallery and MPs from both sides of the House looked equally stunned when Debono stood up to vote with the Opposition for a second time, after voting in favour of the amendment to convert the censure motion into a resignation motion.

The odds seemed clearly against Debono crossing the Rubicon and vote against a government minister, especially after government MPs put great store in dubbing the motion "a vote of no-confidence" in the government.

The tactic backfired spectacularly. Debono's criticism of the justice and home affairs minister on Tuesday might have indicated that he would not support his nemesis, but the maverick MP did his best to confuse everyone by giving conflicting statements on how he would vote.

As soon as he stood up for the first vote to approve the amendment, members of the Opposition were seen looking in astonishment at Debono.

But most notable were the looks on the faces of government MPs, frozen in disbelief and the telltale signs of betrayed honour.

Although both Gonzi and Mifsud Bonnici yesterday claimed Debono's vote had not caught them by surprise, there was no doubt that they expected Debono lacked the gall to vote against the government.

Aware of the commotion that he had stirred, Debono had already put on his jacket as the clerk of the House counted the government's vote.

And then he fled the House, leaving from the side of the Speaker's chair as soon as the doors of the Chamber reopened after the vote was counted.

As soon as the Speaker adjourned, the startled government MPs exited the chamber and congregated inside the Prime Minister's office, while Opposition MPs gathered around their leader Joseph Muscat as if deciding what to do next.

In his office, as the events of the evening soaked in, a visibly elated Muscat could be seen discussing with his MPs. One Labour official later told MaltaToday that Debono's vote "has taken [us] by surprise".

On the other hand, the Prime Minister addressed the media a full hour after the vote. Visibly emotional, some members of Gonzi's entourage could be seen shedding a tear or two in disbelief.

Mifsud Bonnici himself looked emotional, even as he put on a brave face after a trying week in which he was put under some harsh scrutiny.

Government MPs - with the exception of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett who left parliament soon after the vote - grouped around Mifsud Bonnici in a show of support. The show of support continued outside parliament, where a small crowd had gathered outside waiting for the former minister to come out.