2012: The year when Franco Debono ‘went the distance’

2012 is the year that will go down in political history as the year that Nationalist MP Franco Debono went as far as to bring down the government by voting against the budget, forcing the Prime Minister to call a general election.

Weekly newspaper Illum's report traces the course of the PN's internal instability, largely attributable to its one-seat parliamentary majority and the intractability of Nationalist MP Franco Debono, from its start late last year, to its climax, the 10 December budget vote.

The budget vote that was taken on 10 December, Illum reports, was not the only moment that solidified the personality and character of Debono as a "thorn", in the PN's side, but was rather a continuation of his oppositional and confrontational attitude against a traditional political systems and hierarchies that defied pressure for reforms.

In the minutes before this fateful vote against government in the 2013 budget, Debono address Speaker of the House Michael Frendo, Debono insisted that he was proud to vote in this way, and attacked the Prime Minister on several fronts, among which was Debono's long-standing accusation that the PN is run by an "oligarchy."

Debono also accused Gonzi of placing Minister Austin Gatt ahead of the national interest, given how Debono's vote in favour of government in the budget vote was conditional on Austin Gatt stepping down as Minister.

Debono insisted that Gatt should assume the responsibilities for his roles in what he insisted where failures in various sectors and reforms, among them being the pubic transportation reform, as well as the widespread financial losses incurred by the Dry Docks over decisions such as the Fairmount contract.

Illum's report also explores the months leading up to the vote that brought down Gonzi's administration, which stretches back to January when Debono kept up pressure on Gonzi for justice reforms despite how Gonzi had chosen to split the Justice and Internal Affairs ministry, and appointing Chris Said as Justice Minister.

At the time, Debono had openly declared that he had no further intention to vote alongside a government led by Lawrence Gonzi and that he should call an early election. Gonzi however brusquely brushed Debono's statements aside, saying that he has no plans t require Debono's vote, and refused to go to the polls.

Despite Debono's insistence, he however refrained from voting against Government in a confidence motion on 26 January, only abstaining. The vote passed on the Speaker's casting vote. This move represented a step back from what Debono had been previously pledging.

The report also notes that it was this internal rift that caused Gonzi to seek to reconfirm his leadership within the PN by means of a one-horse race wherein he was the only contestant.

The following summer, Illum reports, was a politically heated one, given the dispute that emerged between Government and Opposition benches over the reactivation of Malta's application within the Partnership-For-Peace initiative, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the EU Richard Cachia Caruana's role in it.

However it was now-Independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who voted along with the Opposition, and not Franco Debono, and sealed RCC's fate.

Nevertheless, in the wake of RCC's resignation, the PN Executive Council opted to approve a motion to ban Franco Debono, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, and Jesmond Mugliett from contesting future elections on the PN ticket.

The move had little effect on both Mugliett and JPO given that they had already announced that they had no plans to contest. However, it struck a nerve with Debono, and, the report notes, can be said to have added fuel to his already-raging rebellious flames.

The report also notes the post-Summer chaos that assailed government the moment that it reconvened parliament - largely thanks to a proposal to privatise 30-odd parking spaces around the islands.

Debono was quick to press the advantage, presenting a motion of no confidence in Austin Gatt for several failures, among which the Arriva reform, but also criticising him over the unilateral decision to carry out extensive parking privatisation.

The government quickly backtracked, and unceremoniously dropped its parking privatisation plans. However Debono's criticism did not let up, and it was during this time that he first indicated that he would vote against the upcoming budget.

The report also notes that in the aftermath of Xarabank's cancellation due to Franco Debono's interference, and Labour's move to cede its 'space' to him so he could confront newly-elected PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil, Debono's criticism has reached new levels.

This is because, during a televised debate between him and TV presenter Norman Vella, during a broadcast of TVHemm, much criticised because of Vella's handling of Debono, the wayward Nationalist MP hinted at plans to form a party of his own.

Read more in today's edition of Illum