Gonzi has to choose between Gatt and the budget

MP Franco Debono has made it clear once again that “with Austin ‘bendy buses’ Gatt in cabinet I will vote against the Gonzi irrelevant gimmick of a Budget, and in favour of the re-establishment of full democracy, instead of the Oligarchy.”

In his blog on Tuesday Debono said he had resigned from the PN in disgust they day Austin Gatt was given a standing ovation at the PN’s general council “for his bendy buses public transport reform.” The PN had not accepted Debono’s resignation only to ban him months later from contesting the coming election on the PN’s ticket.

Debono also referred to the fun poked at Malta during the general conference of the UK Conservative Party because of Gatt’s decision to bring bendy buses to Malta after they had been thrown out of London for clogging their streets and for being a public hazard to those who use them.

 Debono said that Gatt was responsible for a whole series of fiascos and scandals including ARRIVA, BWSC, ARMS Ltd, Car parks privatisation and the Fairmount contract which resulted in the loss of around €80 million to the Malta Drydocks.

Debono also said that Prime Minister Gonzi should learn about democracy from Libya where the prime minister has had to resign after parliament did not approve his choice of cabinet.

Debono said that Prime Minister Gonzi “knows that he does not enjoy the confidence of the House for his cabinet which includes Austin Gatt.”

Pressure is being mounted on Austin Gatt to resign as minister to prolong Gonzi’s hold on power by surviving the vote on the budget and postpone the general election till at least the early months of 2013.

If Gatt goes in the coming weeks, Debono would have had the last laugh even though Prime Minister Gonzi will go out of his way to praise Gatt for standing down out of his own free will and because of his selfless love for the party.