George Pullicino tells Austin Gatt to tone down on his rowdy antics
‘You’re just like Debono Grech’
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was given a stark warning on Tuesday by a “good number” of his MPs in the last parliamentary group meeting, who said they will no longer accept a “bulldozer-style” government, where the people “are left to their fate” to suffer the “severe impact” of reforms.
The warning was made during a rowdy PN parliamentary group meeting that discussed the humiliating defeat at the European Parliament elections.
Many MPs – including current ministers – warned Gonzi they will not “sit pretty” and “watch the nation crumble” before them because of “irresponsible elements” in government who had “lost all sense on social conscience”.
This newspaper can confirm that the rebellion within the PN has now spread beyond the backbench.
Both senior PN officials and members from local committees across the country, are reportedly teaming up to block any attempt by the bullish investments minister Austin Gatt to push through a series of reforms during these coming two years.
Senior PN sources told this newspaper that during last Tuesday’s meeting, Austin Gatt told MPs that according to his “calculations”, the current recession will persist for the next two years.
He added that it would be opportune to push through reforms in various sectors during this time, and that by the time the economy would get its turnaround, government could then ease the pressure in time to win the forthcoming general election.
This statement triggered the fury of many MPs, who expressed shock at Gatt’s cold calculation, claiming that hundreds of families were already facing serious financial difficulties with the utility bills, and that further reforms would mean more families going under.
While MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando insisted on “the absurdity” of a government “contributing to the recession” rather than ease the burden on families, Edwin Vassallo went further by stating that the lack of government’s strategy in handling delicate reforms was rendering the Nationalist MPs “the most hated group of men on the island.”
Other MPs who spoke to this newspaper said they were “disgusted” at Austin Gatt’s reaction to last week’s electoral result, claiming he rebutted the onslaught by simply shrugging off the seriousness of the situation.
They said that as Lawrence Gonzi sat silently, noting the flurry of complaints pouring in all from all sides during the meeting, Austin Gatt was taken to task by fellow minister George Pullicino.
“Austin, you have to calm down,” (Aust, trid tikkalma), he said referring to Gatt’s public behaviour, adding that his shouting likened him to firebrand Labour MP Joe Debono Grech: “They’re comparing you to Joe Debono Grech.” (Qed ixebbhuk ma’ Debono Grech).
Pullicino even reminded Austin Gatt of a recent conversation they had while walking into Parliament: “You were shouting and gesticulating so much, people thought we were fighting…”
It is now clear that, following Tuesday’s meeting, certain members in the PN backbench have resolved to send the message to Gonzi that they will not be accepting “any further decay in the party’s social conscience”, sources said.
They also appealed for more inclusion in decision-making, telling Gonzi that only the privileged had access to his inner circle and that this was leading to a “two-tier Cabinet”.
The MPs also questioned the choice of MEP Simon Busuttil to run the campaign – when he stood to gain from it personally as a candidate in the same election – while key PN members were sidelined for no reason.
Ministers, former ministers and MPs insisted the party could not expect “team spirit” when they had been victimised by personal attacks, before and after the elections, from within the party itself.
An analysis of the electoral defeat by secretary-general Paul Borg Olivier also received support from the majority of MPs, who have rallied behind him. Despite having had nothing to do with the EP election campaign, Borg Olivier is facing pressure to resign from factions loyal to Lawrence Gonzi.
WHAT THEY SAID
Nuggets from Tuesday’s PN meeting
Lawrence Gonzi ‘I assume responsibility for the defeat. It was my choice to focus the campaign on Europe and jobs’
Austin Gatt ‘I envisage two more years of recession. Now is the time to push reforms and ease the pressure in the years of economic turnaround. We could win the next election.’
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando ‘It’s absurd to see government contribute to the recession rather than ease the burden on families. If you push with reforms, more families will go under.’
Edwin Vassallo ‘The lack of strategy in handling delicate reforms is making us the most hated group of men on the island.’
George Pullicino (To Austin Gatt) ‘You must calm down. People are comparing you to Joe Debono Grech.’
David Agius (Whip) ‘Gatt’s tariffs were not the sole problem that contributed to the defeat. There were far more serious internal issues to be addressed.’
Jean-Pierre Farrugia ‘The PM’s biggest mistake was to have a small Cabinet, creating super ministries and too powerful ministers, mostly absent from the island due to EU-related work, and out of touch with the people.’
Beppe Fenech Adami ‘I’ve been asking for an appointment with Alan Camilleri at Malta Enterprise for the past three weeks to enquire on constituents’ concerns and still am without acknowledgement or reply.’
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