Schiavone’s approval just a matter of time

PN Backbencher, Franco Debono, who has been banned from contesting on the Nationalist Party ticket in the forthcoming elections, is still trying to have the PN ban removed. The ban, passed unanimously at a PN executive committee meeting was passed on three Nationalist MPs, Franco Debono, Jesmond Mugliett and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando who has now resigned from the party.

Franco Debono has already stated that he will not support the government in the next Budget vote. Although there are attempts at some sort of reconciliation, it is unlikely that the PN executive will lift the ban on Dr. Debono. Recently Franco Debono has stated that the decision to contest or otherwise should be his own personal decision.

One of the PN blogs run by Peter Darmanin entitled – Nitolbu r-Rizenja ta’Franco Debono – is still very active. All contributions are obviously against Franco Debono. Peter Darmanin himself writes that it was a mistake to have allowed Dr. Debono to contest in the first place. Darmanin also reminds Franco Debono that he had submitted his resignation from the PN several times. Finally, Darmanin tells Franco Debono that he must now face the music. The relationship between Franco Debono and the PN is finished – completely.

So far, the PN executive has approved Manuel Delia, one of Austin Gatt’s men, to contest the next election on behalf of the PN, in Franco Debono’s district. Although the PN has not yet approved the nomination of Hermann Schiavone, the Prime Minister has stated that the list is not final. Schiavone has continued with his home visits and campaigning and it is widely accepted that once Debono’s vote would no longer be required in Parliament, the nomination of Schiavone for the seat held by Franco Debono, will become official.