Debono blogs missive against ‘Austin Gatt clone’

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has kept up his threat not to support his own government  as long as transport and investments minister Austin Gatt remains a cabinet member.

Punctuating the lull of the summer months with his outbursts on his personal blog, Debono - recently banned from contesting on the PN ticket - is claiming he will withdraw support for Lawrence Gonzi's government as long as Gatt is minister.

Parliament reconvenes on 1 October with, amongst other matters, a crucial and difficult Budget 2013 on its agenda.

In his salvo, Debono drew comparisons between the ban on his candidature, and the candidature of Claudio Grech, the IT policy advisor for Austin Gatt, specifically after having been found guilty of falsifying a police identification card in 1994.

Describing Grech as an 'Austin Gatt clone', Debono cited excerpts from the court transcript that said Grech had counterfeited the ID card ostensibly in a bid to impress a girlfriend. "Every human being likes to impress, but those willing to commit a criminal offence just to impress and show off are the rare exceptions and show particular character and psychological traits," Debono said.

"The trick is having an Austin Gatt canvasser in the family and then 'everything is possible'," he said, mocking the 2008 electoral slogan for the PN.

"As a reward, some two years after Grech formed part of Austin Gatt's private secretariat... after the conviction [Grech] was employed in the justice minister's private secretariat."

On his part, Claudio Grech accused the Labour party media of attacking him personally in a bid to tarnish his reputation. He said the 1994 charge demonstrated "little else than my youthful zeal to join the police force."

Grech said the Labour party rekindles its interest in this matter in an attempt to weaken his credibility. "These attacks are indicative of a party that is focused on undermining the achievements that this country has registered through the years. I am proud to have served in several roles, which have led to such successes."

"Puerile tactics harm the perpetrators and not its targets. These attacks will energise me further to work in the best interest of my country, my constituency and the Nationalist Party," Grech said in a statement.