The crucial and highly-anticipated vote regarding the second reading of the Budget Measures Implementation Bill is set for 9 May.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at the end of a PN parliamentary group meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Pietà yesterday afternoon, during which the current political impasse in Parliament was discussed. It is also highly significant that on 9 May, the PN will be exactly 24 years in government, bar a two-year period.

Addressing the media gathered outside the PN headquarters, the Prime Minister said that the parliamentary group agreed that the most urgent issue to be addressed in the interest of the country right now is the vote regarding the Budget Measures Implementation Bill. This may include other votes on ancillary legislation.

“This means that the Parliamentary group regards the budget bill as having the highest priority in the current circumstances”, stated adamantly the Prime Minister. He added that from now till May 9, Parliament will finish the debate regarding the budget implementation bill as well as hold the debate of setting up the Special Vehicle Project in connection with the City Gate project.

“Other matters on the agenda will be eventually debated, but only after the vote to determine whether the Government still holds a majority in parliament has taken place” concluded the Prime Minister.

Dr Gonzi refused to comment further when asked about Franco Debono’s latest declarations and repeated that a decision has been taken for the crucial money bill to be put to the vote on 9 May.

This will be the first opportunity for the Government to test its parliamentary majority following the abstention of Franco Debono in no-confidence vote of 26 January, which the Government only managed to survive after it had to rely on the Speaker’s casting vote.

The decision to further postpone the vote on the justice and home affairs motion will further widen the rift between the Prime Minister and his Parliamentary Assistant Franco Debono. The latter had declared his support for the budget bill on condition that the pending motion on justice and home affairs which was presented by the Opposition on 5 December motion is debated immediately. This motion calls for political accountability regarding various shortcomings in these sectors which were then under the responsibility of Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici.

While the absence of Franco Debono from the Parliamentary group meeting is not a surprise anymore, backbenchers Jesmond Mugliett and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando were the most notable absentees. The latter however voiced his opinion on Facebook an hour before the meeting claiming that “prolonging the inevitable has now not only become humiliating ...it is not in the national interest.” He added that in these circumstances the government will be forced to call an election by autumn at most. He concluded that “clinging on in these circumstances is not a responsible option” for the government.