Will the real republicans please stand up?

It would seem that the Maltastar virtual leadership poll has truly put the cat amongst the pigeons.  While the first round of the poll was what most would have considered the conventional thinking in terms of potential leadership candidates, it left a major question unanswered in Debono's role as a possible deep reformer inside PN.

With only a few days since the start of polling in this second round between previous front-runner Mario DeMarco and current incumbent Lawrence Gonzi, Franco Debono has already shown to be more popular than the others combined with 54% of votes cast.

MP Franco Debono has done more than get under the skin of the GonziPN regime in pushing for reforms.  He has asked fundamental questions about the leadership of PN and the governance of the Republic of Malta.

Lawrence Gonzi's view of Malta would appear to be based less on a republic and more one of a 'dominium plenum'.  His secret courtiers have enjoyed the riches that come with loyal servitude for many years while we subjects suffer as poverty increases with every fuel bill and hike in gas prices. 

And so, now that the king has instructed them and his extended court to show their loyalty in the farcical PN leadership election, they must do so.  But in doing so, while they prosper, they must bow humbly before the king.  They know that to do otherwise they would suffer banishment from the kingdom.  

As they do, they reinforce the state within a state, and hope that what scraps are left from the ever diminishing king's table are thrown their way.

For the rest of us, the ever worsening state of healthcare at Mater Dei proves that Gonzi's response continues to be "Qu’ils mangent de la brioche" - "Let them eat cake".

Franco Debono has variously been described as insane and childish.  In one respect we agree.  As in the famous tale by Hans Christian Anderson, he has openly declared in parliament that "The king has no clothes."  But unlike the tale, he has done so without the naivety of a child.  He knew that the price he might pay would be political exile and the hostility of those who serve the king.

From our analysis, he has done so because in his own way, inside PN, he is a solitary defender of The Republic of Malta.