Franco Debono would support Chris Said for PN leader

Nationalist MP Franco Debono appears to have thrown his weight behind Gozitan MP Chris Said, a personal friend of his, for the role of PN leader.

Writing in his personal blog, Debono however added that he had "no doubt" that Said had no such aspirations for the role of party leader.

"There will come a time, as happens with all leaders, that [Gonzi] will have to make way for a new leader. I will have no problem to support Chris Said for party leader," Debono wrote.

Said, whose political career started as mayor of Nadur, had a stellar career having been appointed parliamentary secretary for public dialogue in the OPM upon being elected MP, and later justice and family minister taking on the portfolios of two cabinet ministers.

The MP, who is banned from contesting the next elections on the PN ticket after supporting an Opposition motion for the resignation of home affairs minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici, has turned to his blog in making political statements that, more often than not, still display his marginalisation from the PN mainstream.

"I will have no problem to support Chris Said for party leader since he can bring change within the party. I have been extremely loyal to Dr Gonzi for years, I tried to advise that some people were holding him hostage, and unfortunately had to take the stands I took because of the grip of these people. Dr Gonzi as a person did not deserve this," Debono said.

Last week, Debono said the prime minister would have to consider reducing utility bills ahead of the next Budget, in a tirade against investments minister Austin Gatt.

"I wish the Prime Minister and his family a good holiday. In the meantime let it be clear that if this burden is not going to be lifted from Maltese families then the government is heading into big problems for the next Budget," Debono wrote this morning in his flegdling blog.

It will be Gonzi's first challenge as the summer recess gives way to an animated political season, when parliament goes to vote on a budget which now needs the support of independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. Facing little space for manouvre due to increased spending and a tight deficit-reduction programme, Gonzi could have little room for reduced utility bills that put a further strain on the financing of Enemalta.

Coming just two days after a PN mailshot from the Prime Minister telling families to relax on their summer holidays, Debono's timing is not uncanny: "Whilst some people are on holiday, others are struggling to make ends meet especially due to inhumane and cruel utility bills which have burdened Maltese families for the past years ever since 'the Bully' decided to play his antics once again on his favourite victim: the whole Maltese population," Debono says, referring to Gatt.

There is no love lost between Debono and Austin Gatt, after the MP nearly cost him his cabinet position when he abstained in a motion of no-confidence filed by the Opposition back in November 2011. Gatt's head of secretariat Manuel Delia is now being fielded as a candidate in Debono's fifth district, while Gatt's former right-hand man Claudio Grech is also contesting the next elections.