I am sick and tired of reading about a race that Dr Gonzi was involved in. What race? Some said Dr Gonzi would be victorious because it was a one-man race because he was racing alone, others said that Dr Gonzi knew he would win at Pietà headquarters but what about in Parliament. Most of these had an interest in Gonzi’s downfall.

In my opinion none of them were correct, because what happened on 25 February at the Pietà headquarters was not a race but a confirmation of Dr Gonzi leadership of the PN. It was not a race, not because of Dr Gonzi but because he himself had given a chance to whoever was not happy with his leadership, s/he could take his place if elected by the party. None of the big mouths took up this invitation, so if there was going to be a race, it did not happen; instead it was fresh confirmation of the confidence the party has in the present leader. Not only that, as Dr Gonzi had also promised that he would gladly work under whoever the new leader was. How can there a more democratic gentleman than the Prime Minister. Was he wrong to expect loyalty from his colleagues in Parliament?

As far as I know, Dr Debono, a backbencher on the government side, started all this when he threatened that he would not vote with the government if a ministry was not split, as well as certain other matters that take time to introduce. Perhaps to calm him down, the Prime Minister reshuffled his Cabinet by splitting that ministry into two and appointing three new ministers – Dr Debono was not one of them. Dr Debono then went public saying that he would not vote with the government in Parliament as long as Dr Gonzi was Prime Minister, and he proved it by abstaining when it came to vote in a motion of no confidence proposed by the Opposition. The Speaker with his casting vote saved the government and the motion was defeated. That is why Dr Gonzi had to go back to the party to confirm his authority in the party.

What happened on 25 February was, in my opinion, step one, but that is not enough to govern a country, there is step two to be tackled. The government cannot govern by depending on the Speaker’s vote, so something has got to be done with Dr Debono. Dr Debono should realise that there was a chance for somebody else to lead the party; he should also realise that there was a chance to try his luck especially when he had Dr Gonzi’s promise that if a new leader were elected he would work with him/her. Dr Debono should forget the recent past and give his vote to the government, even for the sake of those who voted for him. If he does, this legislature will be completed when it should for the benefit of the government, of which he is part, for the Party, for his constituents, but above all for the country. If it is God’s will that this happens, it will be the end of step two. An end I wish to see, not by appeasement but by reasoning.

Joseph Muscat

MOSTA