In from the cold? Franco Debono hints at party rapprochement

The MP who until a few weeks ago was adamant to vote against the government in the upcoming budget as long as transport minister Austin Gatt stays on in the Cabinet, may be wavering in his principled stance.

His latest post on his personal blog yesterday set much store in talk of "reconciliation" inside the PN as the party faces an upcoming deputy leadership contest following the appointment as commissioner-designate of foreign minister and deputy leader Tonio Borg.

"The one thing the PN desperately needs is a process of reconciliation with all thoser thousands of people have left the party. And it is a mammoth task. That is why PN has lost badly in all appointments with the electorate, because of Austin [Gatt]'s confrontational methods had taken over the party," Debono said in another pot-shot at his nemesis.

"Reconciliation is the magic word. Reconciliation means meritocracy and equal treatment, independently of who your father or grandfather is. It is obvious that the greatest reform within the party would take place after the general election, but right now and as a first step: reconciliation," said the MP who has been banned from running the PN ticket after having voted with the Opposition to oust home affairs minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici in a vote of no-confidence.

Debono has also filed a motion of no-confidence against Austin Gatt, which is not yet scheduled for debate in the House.

With the a budget scheduled for end-November, the Nationalist government's date with destiny might not turn out to be as momentous as expected after Debono categorically ruled out supporting Lawrence Gonzi's government with Austin Gatt staying on as minister.

But the rebel MP's conciliatory tone was latched upon by deputy leadership aspirant and Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil, who said on Nationalist radio 101 that Debono had "taken responsibility for his actions" and that in a recent "amicable" meeting he had found the MP "very conciliatory".

"I say that if there is a possibility for reconciliation and unity, not just with Franco but with everybody who is hurt, we must take that step. The people want it. I'm not saying people must not take responsibility [for their actions], but there can still be a way of seeing unity win over division," Busuttil said.

Up until the beginning of October, Franco Debono had declared to the House Business Committee that his resolve not to support the budget - which requires a majority for the government to survive beyond November - had been strengthened by the government's decision to forge ahead with a €12 million lease-and-buy deal for the private St Philip's Hospital.

Then this week he kept his cards close to his chest on whether he will still vote against the budget should Gatt stay on as minister. An evasive Debono 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.