Maybe it was because of the biting cold on Monday night, and again yesterday morning that there were very few people watching the unfolding events inside Parliament on Monday and the prime minister going to hand in his resignation yesterday morning, rather than the appeals made by the parties.

The fact is that this whole story has sickened the entire country. We knew what was coming and it was only fools with the blinkers on who still held on to some hope that the Budget would be approved, that Franco Debono would bow to party discipline and that we could go and enjoy Christmas with our families with no worrisome thoughts at all.

This story could, should, have been wrapped up months ago when things started to get sticky for Dr Gonzi and he should have been the first to understand what was going on and to take it from there.

Instead, we have had all this lingering dusk, the lingering death of this legislature, all this uncertainty which has sapped our energy and the vitality of this country. Surely, this was far worse than an election outcome with Labour as the winner.

Nor did the government go out in honour. The most widespread perception is that this government, this prime minister, had to be dragged out by the hair to let go of the seat of power, screaming until it was hoarse.

In the end though, the government went down without a whimper, without being strong and forceful where Franco Debono and the rest of the rebels were concerned. Dr Gonzi first, and then so many who spoke on behalf of the party in government on the media later, refused to address the Debono issue and instead contented themselves with attacking Labour. But the whole country knew that what they had in mind and heart was deep anger at Debono and they did not want to express what they were feeling. So the whole country watched this ‘mirrors’ game, well knowing that the person who was speaking was not really expressing what he thought and that he (or she) was brow beating Labour because s/he did not (dare?) beat Franco Debono.

That may have been fine when there was any slim chance that Dr Debono would not vote against the budget, but once it was clear he was going his way, force of habit still made the government spokesmen tongue-tied.

So when after a word-fest that lasted an evening, the vote was taken, there was never going to be anything new for the public. Things went on as they were always going to, and as they have been for months. It may not have been ‘déjà vu’ in the strict sense of the term, but in most people’s minds they had already seen the film and knew the conclusion by heart.

That’s that, then. The die is cast. All stereotypes can fit. They may say it until they get hoarse and even start believing it themselves, but no one really believes that the campaign will begin on 7 January. It has already begun, and it did a long time ago too.