Debono waits for no-confidence motion before taking stand on budget

MP asked whether he intends to still vote against budget | 'Many encouraging me to stand for deputy leader'

30 October 2012, 12:00am
by Nestor Laiviera

2 min read

Franco Debono takes time to say he is considered deputy leadership stuff by admirers.

Nationalist MP Franco Debono is keeping his cards close to his chest on whether he will still vote against the government budget should transport minister Austin Gatt stay on as minister.

With a budget now scheduled for end-November that needs every single vote of the government side as well independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando's to pass, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is aware his government might fall before the Christmas recess.

But when contacted today by MaltaToday whether he still intends to vote against the budget, Debono was evasive and did not answer directly about his repeated statements threatening not to support the government.

Pressed for an answer, the rebel MP pointed to the no-confidence motion against Austin Gatt which he tabled on 4 October over various shortcomings in the transport and other sectors that falls under the minister's responsibility.

"You should draw your own conclusions from that," Debono told MaltaToday without explicitly confirming whether he would abstain or vote against the upcoming budget.

Debono has been insisting the government does not enjoy his support or his vote in favour of the budget as long as Gatt stays on as minister, since summer. He last mentioned he would vote against the budget on 15 October in his personal blog.

Debono's no-confidence motion takes Gatt to task over his handling of the public transport reform, the car parks privatisation issue and the power station extension contract.

In 2011, Debono had also abstained in a no-confidence motion against Gatt tabled by the Opposition on the public transport reform. On his part, Austin Gatt has shrugged off Debono's threats, having said Debono "says many things" and that he had no intention of resigning.

Debono also declined to comment on his preference for deputy leader, the election of which is expected to take place in November. "Of course, there is an ID kit of characteristics of what the party needs and who would be ideal for the job," Debono said, but said any guessing would be speculative since nominations have not been cast yet.

"The best contender for the job might be someone who has not been mentioned so far in the media. One can only speculate on those who will submit their nomination... there are many encouraging me [to contest for deputy leader] as well, saying that I would be an ideal figure of reconciliation for the party," Debono said, without saying whether he would be heeding such advice or not.

Debono dismissed the focus on small business minister Jason Azzopardi's announcement that he would not contest the post for deputy leader: "It's non-news. Nobody was mentioning him for the deputy leadership race until his announcement that he would not contest."

More from Nestor Laiviera

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Franco Debono.... kemm ikun ahjar ma tghajd x ha taghmel jew le ghax kull darba qed taghmel bil kontra ta dak li tghid. illek zmien twil tghid li ma ghandekx fiducja f Austin Gatt jew Gonzi etc imma milli jidher l affari tas sena l ohra ha tirrepeti ruha. Jkolli nghid li int qed issalva l gvern u mhux twaqqaw.EZ kieku ma ghadt xejn fuq tal parkegg kiieku illum ninsabu f nofs kampanja ellettorali imma int SALVAJT il gvern....

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As the song goes, he walks like a man , he talks like a man, but he is just a little boy.

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So finally the wWIMP in FRanco has broken loose. I always though he did not have what it takes and is as hollow as termite devoured tree trunk.

Luke Camilleri •

Oh Stop Dilly -DALLIying , you are just like Gonzi! To anyone who knows what a "climax" is , here is an "ANTI-CLIMAX" = Dr . Franco Debono! He is not even the Gonzi Oligarchy's "Coitus Interruptus" he started out to be!

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nahseb finalment fd mhux se jhalli lil min iwahhal fih li waqqa l-gvern jew li intilfet l-elezzjoni minhabba fih.

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Dr. Franco issa qieghed ninduna kemm int tifel zghir. Meta tara iz zmien qieghed joqrob biex taghmel dak li ilek tghid li se taghmel, tibda iggib liskuzi u iddawwar ir rotta. issa se nibda nghidlek miskin.

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I suggest Franco Debono do what he is going to do. Stop playing his political games and act as a responsible politician. I fully agree with most of Franco Debono's ideals,but I do not agree with the way he is going on about them. Say what you mean and mean what you say. If you are going to vote against the budget, unless Austin Gatt is removed, then do that. But please don't keep the Maltese people guessing on what you are going to do. This has stopped being a game and both parties PN and PL need to move on and so does the country.

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tassew jiddispjacini nghid li fil-bidu kont nara sens, mertu u serjeta fi franco debono .... imma issa aktar ma jghaddi z-zmien aktar qed jidher bhala figura patetika, ridikola u komika ..... qisu qasba tixxejjer mar-rih, la jaf fejn sejjer u lanqas jaf minn fejn gej .... u dan kollu qed juri li gonzipn kellu ragun fil-mod kif ittrattah .... ghax gharaf li hlief ipacpac fil-vojt mhux kapaci u li jinsab mifni f'orgja bla ebda limitu ta' arawni kemm jien bravu, kemm jien kbir, kemm jien originali .... biex imbaghad wara gimgha, xahar, xahrejn jinfaqa' qisu zring, qisu buzzieqa tas-sapun .... u ma jhalli ebda tracca hlief ta' nazzjon jiddiehak bih .... what a pity li ga spicca b'dan il-mod .... mintoff kien jhedded il-hin kollu imma kien ggant ... franco debono wkoll il-hin kollu jhedded .... imma lanqas hu stess ghadu ma nduna li hu gurdien ckejken tal-imramma .....

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One major drawback is that Franco is not humble, he would just declare " rajtx kif kelli raguna, dak li ghamilt kien kollu gustifikat" !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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franco il proverbju Malti jaghd li METE IZ ZMIEN IT TUL IL QRUN IDUR, U hekk ha taghmel int ghax mindejjem kont pecluq.