Franco Debono moves breach of privilege motion

Nationalist MP Franco Debono this evening moved a breach of privilege motion against the Public Broadcasting Services (PBS), journalist Pierre Portelli and Times of Malta columnist Andrew Borg Cardona for comments passed on the MP on Monday evening.

Debono accused Portelli of "doing the Prime Minister's dirty work while the Prime Minister spoke about the 5 5 summit."

He also described Times columnist and lawyer Andrew Borg Cardona as former EU ambassador Richard Cachia Caruana's "poodle". Debono added that Borg Cardona had persecuted him for long years for standing up to government's shortcomings.  

The MP explained that during TVM programme Close Up, which is being presented by former PN administrative council president Pierre Portelli, "inciting and offensive comments" about him were passed by Borg Cardona.

When asked by the Speaker of the House to explain why he was moving the motion, Debono said "they were offensive and rude" without going into further detail, as he presented a copy of the programme to the Speaker.

"A new schedule at PBS has begun and so has the mudslinging," an agitated Debono said. On hearing this, Speaker Michael Frendo asked Debono to refrain from passing comments on persons who were not present and warned the MP not to allude or attribute anything to other MPs.

Debono replied: "There are limits to everything," as he once again likened the national broadcaster to the dire broadcasting synonymous with TVM in the eighties under the Labour administration of the time.

He also reminded that the police have been guarding his family home for eight months "because of what has been written about me by Daphne Caruana Galizia, Lou Bondì and Andrew Borg Cardona who all support the Prime Minister."

Pointing at the Prime Minister, who was sitting next to a smiling transport minister Austin Gatt, the MP warned that the "divide in the country is growing, thanks to renowned partisan and polarising persons."  

The Ghaxaq MP, who has been banned from contesting elections with the PN after voting in favour of a Labour motion in Parliament, also revealed that he was the recipient of death threats which he reported to the police last Saturday.

Debono added that the police traced down the person behind the threats but that he had decided "to forgive the person".

At the beginning of the Parliamentary session, when the House was going through the customary question time, Debono gave an indication of what was to come as he vehemently questioned why health minister Joe Cassar was replying on behalf of the Prime Minister when he was present in the House.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi felt compelled to stand up and explain that there was nothing wrong with this procedure as Parliament's Standing Orders authorise ministers to delegate such powers to other ministers.

Speaker Michael Frendo said he will pass a ruling at a later stage.

Debono yesterday made it clear that he will be voting against the government when the 2012 budget is presented. The budget is expected to be presented by mid-November and a vote against the budget would spell the end for the government as it would be the equivalent of a no-confidence vote.

During a fiery House Business Committee meeting, held on Monday, Debono signalled his most clear intention yet not to support the government, when he told the committee that fixing an agenda to debate other laws was "superfluous" to his declaration that he won't support the government in the next Budget.

Debono said that  he would "vote in favour of democracy," when the Budget vote is taken.