‘Franco Debono has burnt all bridges with PN’ – Beppe Fenech Adami

Franco Debono's stand in parliament to vote with the Opposition has not come without its repercussions, as confirmed by the sentiment of Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami, the parliamentary assistant in the home affairs ministry that has just lost its minister.

"Franco Debono has burnt all bridges with the Nationalist Party," a forthright-sounding Fenech Adami told MaltaToday this morning.

"He has seriously jeopardised his position and has shown that he cannot work in a team."

Reacting to yesterday's vote, Fenech Adami said the Opposition had taken advantage of Franco Debono's "frustration" inside the party.

"Mifsud Bonnici did well to hand in his resignation, and for the Prime Minister to accept it. However, there are now consequences which go beyond a resignation and Franco Debono must keep this in mind."

Fenech Adami also praised Lawrence Gonzi's decision to call for a vote of confidence in government as the way forward. "Irrespective of whether the motion passes with the Speaker's casting vote or not, government will have the right to go on with its work. If the motion is defeated, in the sense that there is a majority of votes against the motion, than there is no other option than to call early elections," he said.

But backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has expressed consistency in reiterating that early elections are the only way forward for Gonzi - something he said in January, when transport minister Austin Gatt faced a motion of censure.

"I believe that when there are irreconcilable differences between a prime minister and one of his MPs, the best way forward is to call early elections. A threat emanating from a one-seat majority that comes into play every time this difference crops up, is not beneficial for government. It ends up losing focus on its administrative work, to find a solution for the threat," he said.

But Pullicino Orlando also said he was unhappy to see Carm Mifsud Bonnici "passing through what [he] passed through".

When asked whether he believed Franco Debono had a future within the PN, Pullicino Orlando said that was a decision the party's executive had to take.

On the other hand, MP Edwin Vassallo - who lambasted the "immorality" of the Opposition motion over the past week - said Debono's future was in the MP's hands: "His future depends on him and on how much he will be able to persuade others of his good intentions. The doors of the party are always open but it will only depend on how much he [Debono] will feel comfortable or not."

Vassallo added: "It's entirely up to Debono to see how he wants to be remembered."

The MP said Debono's vote had been "expected" but the party had to move forward. "What it irritated me was the Opposition's sole intent to win a vote against government. They found an opportunity through Franco Debono's criticism of justice and home affairs and used his sentiment to achieve what they wanted," he said.

"Every MP had the right to criticise, but then he has to shoulder the responsibility of the criticism made."

Vassallo conceded that Debono had "unlike the Opposition" put forward a "positive motion" sustained by proposals.

He also rubbished claims that Wednesday's vote had fuelled instability in government. "The Prime Minister never loses focus from his work and knows exactly where he wants to go. He has a long-term vision and is able to go on with his work even while dealing with everything else," Vassallo said.

"He is not gripped to the seat of power, but to his duty as an elected Prime Minister. Instability comes from a prime minister with no vision or track record, something that's not attributable to Lawrence Gonzi."