We feel your pain, Franco. Now please just zip it and be a man.
Is there anything worse than hearing somebody drone on about their painful divorce/separation/break-up five years down the line?
Yes. It’s hearing Franco Debono tell us about his political existential crisis AGAIN.
He held parliament hostage for almost an hour last Friday, shamelessly working on time borrowed from Joseph Muscat.
Now he’s in a strop because a decision was taken last night that on the government benches, only the prime minister and deputy prime minister will speak before today’s vote of confidence in the government.
Several MPs had asked to speak, and even though they would have spoken in favour of the government, they were refused. And rightly so, because we don’t need another circus like Friday’s.
But Franco Debono is yet again convinced that he is special and must be given exceptional treatment. He alone of all government MPs who are not the PM or his deputy should be allowed to speak, he told the press at around seven o’clock this morning. Because he alone abstained from the vote against Austin Gatt last Friday and he needs to explain himself.
He’s special, you see – different. Ghax hekk qaltlu l-mummy.
You explained yourself already, Franco. For 50 minutes. Three days ago.
The Times told us that your voice “quivered with emotion”. It quivered so much, indeed, that it shook your line of reasoning, which for large chunks of the time was incoherent.
It quivered so much that it left many of your sentences unfinished.
If you think that you didn’t explain yourself sufficiently last Friday in the course of almost an hour, then that’s your problem and you are wrong to demand a reprise today.
And you would be CRAZY to repeat the tactic of asking Joseph Muscat for some of his speaking time. In your fixation with doing a hatchet job on the prime minister, Austin Gatt and Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, you haven’t even bothered to work out how all this is going down with those who voted for you.
There is such a thing as pushing the envelope too far.
There is such a thing as trying to be too clever by half.
Heroes, my dear Franco, are never petulant. Most people are aware of that, which is why you’re this close to being toast. I imagine that, like Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando before you, you have forgotten already who put you where you are.
Are you behaving in accordance with their wishes? Unless the fifth electoral district is jampacked with half-crazed people, I don’t think so.
Like Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando before you, you are about to discover that. Then only the Earl Grey will be able to help you.
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Who’s the fucking wanker now? I assume this expression is now permissible.
The cheek. This after missing the NP parliamentary meeting.
And he had the audacity to complain about arrogant attitudes.
Primadonnas really irk me. Franco Debono, please just keep quiet and finish your remaining time in parliament with at least a little dignity.
The PN should let him speak, not because of democracy and not because of him having anything else to explain. It would save them the embarrassment of having him speak, yet again, with time allotted by the opposition.
[Daphne – Maybe they want him to speak on Opposition time. It’s called giving people enough rope to hang themselves.]
The world is full of prats but we’ve been blessed with more than our fair share.
One slight correction ….. Franco is not close to being toast. He IS toast.
The fifth electoral district needs alternative candidates now. Candidates who are fully aware that representation includes being physically present. Preferably of the place.
Balls made in China? They might not work.
Be careful how you criticise Franco Debono or he will accuse you of being undemocratic. Or saying that the ‘demokrazija qed titnaqqar’ and we are as bad as the 1980s. Hold on, just remembered you do not work for PBS.
I wonder whether Big Joe Grim(a) will call your comments a ‘deficit in democracy’.
Why do some people want to ignore the fact that we have indeed moved on?
http://youtu.be/g9kYHoAAaPw
Well said and so true….
If I am not mistaken, last Saturday on DISSETT he mentioned that in the coming months there will be some other topics which the Parliament has not been yet tackled.
is Franco an only child as well?
[Daphne – Believe it or not, no. He’s got a brother. And even, contrary to popular belief and the results, a father.]
It’s democracy Daphne. We can’t zip it.
[Daphne – Democracy, reuters, requires respect for democracy by default. And good manners should never be thrown overboard. I don’t, for example, expect my guests to call me names at my dinner-table and then cite freedom of speech in their defence.]
I don’t know what JPO and FD have in mind, but they must realize that they are commiting political harakiri.
When they stood for election, a contract was entered, by both sides, whereby on one hand, the Nationalist voters appointed them to be their voices in parliament, whilst these two gentlemen, by accepting the votes and trust of their constituents, bound themselves to represent faithfully their wishes.
Should they deem to have good cause not to represent further their constituents, and if they are honourable in fact and not merely by title, they should resign their mandate.
They must surely realise that the majority of people who voted for them last time won’t be falling over themselves to repeat their error next time, as these two gents seem to do their best to hinder the Nationalist Party.
This is especially so in JPO’s case, where he seems to be hopping in and out of Labour’s bed.
And as nobody likes what may easily be perceived as a turncoat, neither will most Labour voters rush along to tick the box next to their names come next election.
They have burned their political boats as surely as if they had nuked them.
So I suggest that they had better enjoy their five minutes of fame, because after the next election, nobody will be turning up on their Facebook pages to fawn on how sweet and handsome they are. They will become the modern-day Dom Mintoffs, but without the matching history.
Dalli must also live in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks that he will one day have any say in the Nationalist Party. He is so politically dead that even his skeleton has crumbled away.
Good morning Daphne,
I am having a problem to open your Running Commentary Website on ( INTERNET EXPLORER ) I am getting this –>> (Web Server’s Default Page) Parallels Plesk Panel ect …
With Google Chrome and Safari no problems.
Please do you know if it is website problems or Explorer settings ?
Thanks & Rgds
Manuel
[Daphne – This has happened to several people who have contacted me, all reporting problems loading the website on their usual browser, whether that browser is Chrome, Firefox or Explorer. This happens because (in very, very layman’s terms) your browser ‘memorised’ the default page from last Saturday. Switch to another browser and key in the domain name from scratch and in full. This site is teeming with people who work in the field and who know far more about it than I could possibly hope to do, so perhaps they have other suggestions. Basically, it’s not a problem with the website, but with your browser.]
http://www.wikihow.com/Clear-Your-Browser's-Cache
[Daphne – Many thanks.]
Happened to me on Safari as well but cleared history and cookies deleted, and I’m now cruising fine.
The most annoying people I ever meet are the ones who ALWAYS have to have the last word, even when the subject has been exhausted beyond squeeze.
Debono has had his say and has acted like a prima donna all over most TV stations.
He has given fodder to Labour’s continual groaning and has built up their aspirations for an early election.
He should now just shut up and at least try and recoup some of the good image he presumably had with his constituents, most of whom must be suffering from remorse of having put him there – at the expense of Louis Galea, of all people!
I have no doubt that Debono will have another bash in the forthcoming Budget discussion, particularly when the vote for Austin Gatt’s Ministry is due. I just hope that when the PN is choosing its candidates for the next election, FD and JPO won’t be there.
The a**h*** presented a private members’ motion. It’s the justice minister’s turn.
Someone’s trying to show his mettle: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111108/local/franco-debono-moves-private-motion-on-justice-the-police.392894
Mrs Caruana Galizia, just a small note to notify you that your site is not loading on google chrome. No need to post this comment, thanks.
[Daphne – Yes, I have had some reports of that. We’ll see to it. Thank you.]
Works fine for me…
He’s at it again.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111108/local/franco-debono-moves-private-motion-on-justice-the-police.392894
Has the man no shame?
Qazzez id-dinja! Sejjah elezzjoni, Dr Gonzi, halli Malta tehles minnu darba ghal dejjem. Issa xbajna bil-mutetti tieghu.
Mhux la kemm jirrizenja u tissejjah elezzjoni . F’dan it-taqlib dinji ta’ madwarna kapaci jintilef kollox.
Qisu ghandek xini f’maltempata u ghandek bahri li suppost qed jaqdef li minflok waqaf jaqdef u qajjem paniku ghax dak u l-iehor m’humiex jaghmlu xogholhom sew.
Il-kaptan f’dan il-maltemp m’ghandux mohh dawn il-kwistjonijiet. Bhalissa xoghol kullhadd u li jaqdef u xejn iktar.
Tbiddel il-kaptan jew tarmi l-bahri l-bahar u tara x’jigri? Iebsa l-bicca.
http://c256.r56.cf3.rackcdn.com/925f8700b07de8404dc4976c3a8466423447700872.pdf
Source: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111108/local/franco-debono-moves-private-motion-on-justice-the-police.392894
(His signature says a lot….)
When I read the headlines “We feel your pain Franco” and saw that picture, I thought, OMG, has Franco been castrated?
Insulting the prime minister, and claiming that state broadcasting is as bad as pre 1987, and that democracy has been eroded – imissek tisthi, Dr Debono LLD MP.
Clearly you do not recall Xandir Malta, bombs in PN clubs, tear gas, indiscriminate arrests and beatings at the depot (you think you would get the services of a lawyer during interrogation then ?); Special Assignment Group trained by the North Korean regime of Kim il Sung ; suspension of the Constitutional Court for some nine months because the prime minister Dom Mintoff declared ” jien x’nitmellah mil-kostituzzjoni ” and so much more that you would do well to read up on.
Tonight , you should be man enough to stand up in parliament and APOLOGISE to all those who voted for you and who you have let down and embarrassed so badly.
Isthi, jekk taf.
It seems he doesn’t want to listen to your advice.
God how I loathe this man!
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111108/local/franco-debono-moves-private-motion-on-justice-the-police.392894
When will this guy grow up?
I wonder whether he would have done what Richard Muscat had done in those BAD days.
He would, in all probability, have asked for some time to consider his NO, or stayed home like he did when that other improtant vote was taken and he `retreated`.
[Daphne – Mela dak ommu kienet thallih imur wahdu Sqallija, miskin? Jew ghar minn hekk, mal-girlfriend? X’inhi – jghix wahdu Sqallija, qalb hafna Sqallin u minghajr min jahsillu u jsajjarlu?]
Franco Debono should refer back to the electoral manifesto of the party within who’s ranks he got elected and with who’s assistance he was elected, find the sections on justice and the police and make sure that the promises made therein are implemented during the current legislature.
If he has other items on the shopping list he should propose them during the next General Council meeting of his party for inclusion in the next electoral manifesto.
If the party does not accept his shopping list he is free to form his own party and include his proposals in his electoral manifesto.
Democracy is not about personal agendas and holding government at ransom. Democracy is the will of the majority. In the last General Election the majority chose the PN’s Electoral Manifesto and that is what Franco Debono is duty bound to implement. All the rest is just the fruit of his manual-fitting narcissistic personality.
What is most shocking about all this is how ill-prepared the Labour Party is.
They just don’t want an early election. After 25 years in opposition, not being ready for an election says a thing or two about the government we could have in almost a year.
“close to being toast”. I think you can stick a fork in him as he is done or well done.
Realistically, I can only see a handful of PN supporters voting for him in the fifth district. These people suffered greatly under the MLP.
It wasn’t easy expressing any negative opinion during the Labour years when PN supporters in the fifth district were (and are) significantly outnumbered by militant Labour supporters.
Mummy, mummy, Daphne qieda terga tikteb fuqi.
Oh dear, when will the man, oops sorry, little slip there, boy, learn that it’s all about the timing?
I say let him be a hero. We all know what happens to heroes in classical (or thus influenced) writing. Slowly, but surely, he’ll be our own Maltese Macbeth.
Whatever Franco Debono is , he is certainly not an arse licker and a coward , also he is honest . A rare thing in Maltese politics . Pity we do not have more young men like him on both sides of the Govt . He is not a hero but a man that is not afraid to voice his opinion and never wears a yellow jersey for sure .
[Daphne – ‘Yellow jersey’. Jersey bil-Malti. In English it’s jumper.]
@ Daphne Spent 25 years in the Royal Navy and wore a Seamans JERSEY for many years .
[Daphne – Correct use of the word in context. Unfortunately, Maltese people picked up lots of English words from the army, the navy and the RAF and then applied them out of context. When you go to your chest of drawers and pull out a woolly thing with a V-neck in an attractive shade of greige, that’s a jumper, not a jersey.]
After spending 25 years in the Royal Navy and having worn a Blue Seamans Jersey I think I know what a jesey is and a Jumper is a horse going ov fences
[Daphne – My previous comment applies. If it’s made of wool and has buttons down the front, it’s a cardigan. And if it doesn’t have buttons, it’s a jumper. Some people also call them sweaters, but I find the word hasa unpleasant connotations.]
Whatever Franco Debono is he is not a yes man and certainly not afraid to voice his opinion . He is honest and that is a rare thing in politics . Pity we do not have more young men like him on both sides of Govt benches . I have never ever seen Franco in any yellow clothing .
[Daphne – Almost nobody wears yellow. It’s incredibly unflattering to all but sub-Saharan Africans, southern Indians, and Mediterranean types in August.]
A seamans Jersey is part of the Royal Navy uniform which proudly I wore for 25 years . A Jumper is horse going over fences . He He
You will not win this one !! As a Chief Petty Officer I instructed young men on their uniform and how to wear it . A seamans jersey had no buttons etc it was a long sleeved pull over the head garment A Seamans Jersey.!!
[Daphne – We are in perfect agreement on this one, so why are you bickering?]
You are certainly Petty, C. Zammit, I’ll willingly concede that.
Only cowardly beings wear a yellow jersey .
[Daphne – Cowards ARE YELLOW, not wear a yellow jersey.]
‘Only cowardly beings wear a yellow jersey’
Are you calling the leader of the Tour de France a coward?
at least this man has balls not like all the rest … wel done franco .. not like the rest just sitting down warming the bench …the man has balls and he knows how to use them ..pitty not all understand this .. that they are there to fight for use not for their own use .. and money ..