Updated | Prime Minister denies Franco Debono claims to ‘buy’ his vote on Mifsud Bonnici motion

Adds comments by OPM

The Office of the Prime Minister has denied that the government had attempted to stop MP Franco Debono from voting in favour of the Opposition's motion, by offering him a number of concessions amongst them the perks of a junior minister, according to the MP.

"The Prime Minister categorically denies these claims," a spokesman for the Prime Minister told MaltaToday.

Faced with the denial, an angered Debono told MaltaToday that the Prime Minister was 'lying' and claimed he was in possession of a document that proves the concessions he was offerred not to vote in favour of the motion that prompted the resignation of minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici. "The Prime Minister is lying. He is liar. I have a document that proves what I said," Debono said, adding that he was challenging the Prime Minister to face him "in front of everyone".

When asked whether he could provide MaltaToday with a copy of the alleged document, Debono however was not forthcoming. "I will give it to whomever I decide to give it."

Nationalist MP Franco Debono has claimed he was promised a chauffeur-driven car, a staff of four lawyers and taking control of the Law Commission by falling under the parliamentary committee for the re-codification of laws which he chairs, in return for his vote against the Opposition motion censuring the former justice minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

In a declaration that confirmed an earlier report published by the Labour press, Debono - who has broken ranks with the PN ever since he was banned from contesting the next elections on the party ticket - told MaltaToday he was actually offered a junior ministerial post.

"They offered me the post of parliamentary secretary by another name. But what they couldn't understand was that my actions were nothing personal against Mifsud Bonnici," Debono told MaltaToday.

"I repeatedly told the Prime Minister that he could give Mifsud Bonnici any ministerial post he wanted: but my problem was with him being responsible of justice and home affairs."

Whilst he refused to divulge the name - or names - of the mediator involved in the negotiations, Debono insisted that his issue had always been with guaranteeing accountability and for responsibility to be shouldered by the minister. MaltaToday had already reported on the meetings with senior PN figures before the crucial no-confidence motion that saw Debono vote with the Opposition.

Debono, a criminal lawyer by profession, said that he had experienced the shortcomings of the justice ministry and that this had led him to draft a motion calling for a reform in the justice and home affairs sectors.

In 2011 the MP embarked on a campaign seeking the split of the justice and home affairs ministry, with vocal outbursts in court complaining of the state of the criminal justice system earning him press coverage. He then claimed the Prime Minister gave him an assurance he would split Carm Mifsud Bonnici's ministry.

But a Cabinet reshuffle on 6 January left Debono out of ministerial promotion, prompting the maverick MP's rebellion: he refused to support Mifsud Bonnici in a May no-confidence vote presented by the Opposition, and voted with Labour leading to the minister's resignation.

At the time, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had said that he was not surprised by Franco Debono's vote in favour of the Opposition motion.

The question now remains as to what will happen when parliament reconvenes following the summer recess in two months' time. Debono has already warned the party leadership they are in for some trouble when Parliament reconvenes in October with, amongst other matters, a crucial and difficult Budget 2013 on its agenda.

"How can you condemn me and then expect me to back you in parliament?" a bellicose Debono had told MaltaToday, referring to his ousting from the party ticket for the 2013 elections for having voted for the resignation Mifsud Bonnici.