Will Franco Debono please shut the hell up and talk to a psychiatrist instead?

Published: December 24, 2011 at 2:00am

If Franco Debono, for reasons that are amply obvious, does not realise that psychologically sound people do not behave like this, then those parents of his should.

Instead of being impressed with their son’s importance as the party’s big cheeses turn up at their home to mollify him, they should make a cup of tea, sit down and talk to each other about where they went wrong.

They’ve got a son pushing 40 who’s still living with them when he’s got a house and a girlfriend of his own, throwing tantrums and making scenes like this while the prime minister and the PN secretary-general come visiting to try to keep him on an even keel, and they don’t twig that something is seriously wrong with their ‘boy’.

The time for sucking up to this cracked prat is over, and I’m not referring to his parents.

You can strike a deal with somebody who has no psychological issues but who is upset over something. He’ll take the deal and the whole thing will stop there.

But with somebody like this, the rules that govern normal behaviour don’t apply, because you’re not starting off from normality. So whatever you do to appease him has the opposite effect of that intended.

Instead of taking it as a spoken or unspoken deal and letting the thing rest there, this sort of person sees appeasement as encouragement and an incentive to demand larger and larger amounts.

You’d think they’d have learned their lesson with Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, but no.

Here we go, repeating the same mistakes AGAIN.

Take it from me: the only way to deal with somebody like this is to blow him out of the water. Out-bully him. Send him to hell. Tell him to go and eff himself.

You don’t appease people like Franco and Jeffrey. You scare the crap out of them. When did that Jeffrey put his tail between his legs and scuttle off into the promise of retirement?

When he saw the Malta Today survey results – before they were published – which made him understand at last that people don’t like him or trust him.

Before that, he thought that my view of him is freakish, and that everybody else thinks he’s fabulous.

Why? Because nobody told him the truth to his face. They thought they had better keep him happy in case he blew another gasket.

Let people like this eat your finger on day one, and by the 10th day all that’s left of you is a toenail, if that.

Look at this utterly ridiculous comment Debono posted beneath a story about him on timesofmalta.com. Maybe he thinks it’s really appropriate to pull this kind of stunt in Christmas week – shades of Dom Mintoff.

franco debono

Today, 10:03

i think that dr borg olivier should have said tha he was almost sleeping in our kitchen to convince me to vote, because with a clear conscience i had great difficluties to vote in favour of a ministry, whih i had been sayin for years had a completely wrong attitud to justice and home affairs. nothing personal but i was never in agreement, i declared publicly, and the situation shows.

i think dr borg oliver is one of the persons who knows that one of his decisons, which he has come lately to appreciate that was wrong, and had to remedy, has caused untold harm to my health over the past years, but i never spoke about it in public.

dr borg olivier should have said that he was at my home when the PM called me or i called him and informed me he would be splitting ministries by the end of the year. he did not know, i told him about it, but after some time he saw it with my parents on NET news

i think dr borg olivier should have said he is aware of my state of health and that he was at my home when dr jeanpierre farrugia came to visit me

there are other thing which dr borg olivier should have said, but i stop here for now.
dr borg olivier is aware i am s fed up with the situation of democrcy in malta that i was ready to leave everything i have built with much sacrifice, on my own, and with no one’s help, least from the party, and leave the country, and my family and go to italy, where i have always wanted to work.

when i was elected at 33, i had built a legal office from nothing, made a name for myself as a criminal lawyer and managed to get elected from an impossible district as the youngest government mp after contesting three elections.

i had already had to endure a lot and it was only my great loyalty which kept me in the PN




163 Comments Comment

  1. Botom says:

    Is he the only politician who started everything from scratch and had no one from his family in politics? Of course not.

    He is an exception, true. He wanted to become a minster straight away.

    And he continues to stamp his feet and throw tantrums because he is a narcissistic spoilt brat.

    Give us a break, Franco. Please do leave for Italy and do it fast. You will find many who are more than willing to sponsor your one-way ticket.

    • Jozef says:

      He’s not welcome in Italy either, they have it up to their nose with primadonnas.

      It seems he’s finally realised what his counterparts across the floor think of the politics of consensus; use him as a billboard for their cheap tricks.

      He has his classmate to thank for that.

      • Call me Gowzefff says:

        Jozef, don’t be a spoilsport. Let us just pretend there is place for him in Italy.

        They desperately need help to get out of their economic and political mess. Franco is exactly the sort of person they need right now.

      • ak47 says:

        Ex Italian Minister Brunetta had actually proposed legislation to tax these so called ‘bamboccioni’ aka prats living with mum and dad well beyond their adult life, simply because by refusing to move out such people are shirking responsibilties and contributions.

        Alas in Malta we have the species with enough gall to send ultimata to a prime minister while he probably does not even know the meaning of washng your own dishes, hanging your own laundry or whatever.

    • ciccio2011 says:

      He is not the only politician who started from scratch, but according to Manu Maltes, he is the only one with a big linfa, remember?

  2. john says:

    Backbench GP Jean-Pierre Farrugia came visiting to prescribe for Franco’s pangs of conscience and fits of anxiety. He’s out of his depth here.

    What’s needed is a visit from cabinet member psychiatrist Joseph Cassar. Pity he is not allowed private practice.

  3. Matt says:

    Franco, blackmailing the PM is an insult to your constituents and to your seat in Parliament. Sir, you are egotistical, unworthy of an MP and at 37 you have not matured.

    You have an obligation to put the country and the PN first.

    Many people agree with you that the Ministry of Justice and Interior ought to be separated but how you are going about is just damn wrong. The PM has been way too kind to you and yet you are so ungrateful.

    Your constituents are smelling an ulterior motive here. Do us all a favour and please resign.

  4. John Schembri says:

    He probably wears four hats in his public life to push his agenda; the criminal lawyer’s hat, the PN party hat, the people’s MP hat , and the ‘nome de plume hat’ when writing about himself in the comments section of the internet sites.

    Now we discovered another hat; his personal hat.

    Franco says that he worked hard for his parliamentary seat, and he became an MP on his own steam. I beg to differ.

    If one examines this table (hit list) from Franco’s web site http://www.francodebono.info/ (check constituency) one can easily deduce that when Herman Schiavone was first eliminated by the anonymous letter and then went abroad to further his studies Franco’s votes shot up.

    The natural upcoming winner in the fifth district in 2003 would have easily been Herman Schiavone .

    Some hidden hand with or without a nome de plume wrote an anonymous letter against Herman and eliminated him from the race, he was asked to quit but intelligently asked wether his wife Anna could run in his stead so that the writer of the letter could not fulfill his plan. Eddie and Gonzi conceded this and Anna got 1,244 votes and Franco lagged behind with 1,130 votes.

    Franco was ‘lucky’ that his main opponent was ‘eliminated’ in 2008.

    Luck also smiled at Franco because in 2008 romour had it that Louis Galea was to become president after Eddie.Franco himself confirmed this to me in a comment on The Times of Malta :

    http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111221/local/franco-debono-warns-he-will-not-back-the-government-unless-justice-and-home-affairs-ministry-is-split-immediately.399414

    “ 2) some time before the last election the wife of a first cousin of my father who lives in siggiewi and was very close to louis, told my parents, who can confirm this, that most probably louis will become president after the election.”

    If this ‘luck’ which smiled at Franco was the fruit of his ‘hard work’ as he claims then we need explanations.

    Now that Franco reached his goal he is considering the fifth district as his KINGDOM , his attack and abstention in parliament against the party line and Austin Gatt were all directed to eliminate the budding candidate Delia.He succeeded, Delia stopped his campaigning.

    From what I read on Malta Today

    http://archive.maltatoday.com.mt/2009/12/23/t4.html

    it is most likely that he has been objecting for the approval of the ‘new’ candidates, by the executive ,this is a handicap against his colleagues in the fifth district.

    His mindset which I can read from his nome de plume hat is that now that there is no competition( Louis Galea as minister and MP,no Helen D’Amato as parliamentary secretary and MP , and Ninu Zammit is no longer minister), these ‘opportunisti’ are coming from everywhere to grab HIS seat. While he’s attacking Gonzi , Edgar Galea Curmi and Paul Borg Olivier his Nemesis candidate has risen from the ashes like a Phoenix while toeing the party line and without breaking party rules which Franco Debono the PN candidate frequently quotes under his nome de plume hat.

    I think that Times of Malta news room got fed up of being his mouthpiece even during Christmastime and sent him off. He ran to the open arms of Malta Today and now probably he started scheming against his main contender in the district Herman Schiavone, who is back on the hit list.

    http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/newsdetails/news/national/Franco-Debono-irked-by-dirty-tricks-allegation-forwarded-to-PM-s-aide

    Last note: when one has health problems one has to tell the whole truth to the doctor ,or else the doctor can prescribe the wrong cure.

    • Claude Sciberras says:

      It is truly a pity that the in the last election the electorate chose to give Franco Debono their trust.

      The way i see it, in the last election the party was pushing the line “If you are not happy change the MP’s not the party in government” and you could really feel the drive towards putting forward new faces etc.

      Unfortunately most of the electorate does not really know what the various ministers are doing.

      Some use only their personal experiences as a gauge, others are blinded by stupid pranks and others still have no clue and just give their vote to the first idiot who walks through the door and lends them his ear.

      In Franco Debono’s case i think he truly worked hard to convince the electorate by doing an enormous amount of home visits in his district, something a minister like Louis Galea could not afford being taken up as he was with his ministry which was pivotal in winning the last election for the PN.

      Those who traded Louis Galea for Franco Debono hopefully learnt a lesson. Better the devil you know…

  5. pazzo says:

    Sorry to say I voted for him no 1. I want the PN in government, but I did not want to vote for Ninu or Louis again.

    As for me, they both made a mockery of their pledges.

    They both think that you can fool someone for ever, so I had to try someone against my better instinct (judgement). But you learn, how you learn.

  6. Gobsmacked says:

    Dude, shut up and f**k off to Italy. Then do yourself a favour and find a shrink.

  7. oldtimer says:

    Franco Debono, seems to have forgotten the Sant/Mintoff episode. Mintoff was then called “:traditur” – in this present case it seems that the saying “history repeats itself” is really true.

    I think that Lino Spiteri has put forward a reasonable solution; it would be a good thing to split the ministry but for heaven’s sake, please, do not even think of placing this Debiono chap as Minister.

    He just does not deserve it. He is totally ambitious and he has no respect for the party he chose . The sooner people like these (JPO, etc.etc) leave the cleaner the Party will be. If it loses the election – so be it –

    • No Problem says:

      “If it loses the election – so be it”

      I would have agreed with you if we had a decent opposition.

      And Franco is cutting his nose to spite his face. He knows that he is rocking the government’s boat, but does not care.

      I remember when we were small and used to play with marbles. There was a particularly awful boy who used to ruin our game by kicking away the marbles when his mother called him to run an errand.

      Franco reminds me of that boy.

      I ask Franco:

      Is this ministry split so important to Malta right now? Just put yourself in Dr Gonzi’s place. He’s got enough on his plate without you adding insult to injury.

      So please stop this ridiculous behaviour.

      Stop behaving like the elves in the opposition. They would sell their mum just to get the government in their hands. Do you want your name to be put down as the traitor who made Dr Gonzi call an early election?

      We did not vote for Franco Debono the man. We voted for Franco Debono the Nationalist Party candidate.

      So quit making scenes.

  8. B Azzopardi says:

    I think that it is not even fair to make comparisons between JPO and Franco Debono.

    The later is behaving much and much worse than the other.

    You can have different opinions than your colleagues but their are different options available to you where you can make your point heard.

    Franco was supposed to be part of a team. When you are part of a team you have to have respect for the team’s hierarchy, philosophy and ethics.

    Franco opted for the limelight and up to a certain point that what he got………..attention and front pages. But that game cannot go on forever.

    Franco Debono knows that his days are numbered. It cannot be that he has not realised this.

    Also I do not think that he will want to go down is history as the person who sent half of the population into opposition. It’s not only he that will be seen as such but also all those who are very close to him.

    He has not much room left to maneuver. Dr Gonzi has the option of giving in to Franco’s requests. This will portray the Prime Minister as a weak leader and being at the mercy of every whim of the Nationalists member of Parliament. Or he can put the ball in Franco’s court and see how Dr. Debono and himself want to be remembered.

    • L.Farrugia says:

      I totally agree with you 100%

    • BC says:

      Making use of his freedom of speech in such a democratic country sounds like bad behavior for you Azzopardi? That’s weird.
      And my dear, it’s rather a bit more than an opinion that he was voicing, it was more of a problematic fact that he was trying to address. I guess both of us agree that the judicial system seems to be going rather crazy lately. At least that’s what the recent judgments reflect. A minister focuding totally on such important organ will surely help. Maybe the lack of constructive criticism was….mhmmmm….’your’ rather than his problem.

      • La Redoute says:

        Franco Debono did not get an anxiety attack because of his concern for the state of democracy in Malta. He is anxious about not fulfilling his ambition to become Minister of Justice under this government while on the opposite side of the house, his boyhood rival is gearing up to become prime minister.

        Debono is not exercising his freedom of speech. He is exhibiting the symptoms of narcissism to his own detriment.

  9. Peter Galea says:

    Franco qed jahseb li hu xi haga kbira u li minn meta sar deputat lahaq is-sema.

    Mill-bidu wera x’inhu ghax anke waqt il-kampanja 2008 id-diskors tieghu fid-djar dejjem waqa’ fuq kemm Louis Galea issa xjah u ma kellux jerga jiehu postu fil-parlament u ghalekk, qalilna biex nivvutaw lilu, demm gdid.

    Issa sar qisu bhal tifel zghir isabbat saqajh biex jiehu dak li jrid u johlom bih.

    Franco jekk ghandek titlaq lejn l-Italja fittex iddeciedi u hallina kwieti. M’ghandniex x’nambu xkiel mas-saqajn ghax meta l-Ewropa kollha qedghda tara kif taghmel biex tirranga sitwazzjoni finanzjarja prekarja, hawn ghandna lilek taghmel il-bsaten fir-roti lil gvern li inti stess qed tirrapprezenta.

    Jekk il-Botom jiddeciedi li jaghmel gabra biex nisponsorjaw il-biljett “one way” lil Franco, jiena nohrog sehmi wkoll.

    Franco hemm bzonn tara x’taghmel u jekk ghandek bzonn l-ghajnuna fittixha post iehor.

  10. Frances Soler says:

    Hi Daphne, this message is to thank you for your articles, so well written and informative.

    Besides you keep me posted with current affairs, as I’m half way around the world in Australia.

    I think that Franco Debono is so wrong in what he is doing and hope he changes his mind in what he intends to do.

    Wishing you greetings for the Christmas season & the best for 2012…health & happiness to you….keep on writing please.

  11. Mark says:

    “… on my own, and with no one’s help …”. There’s the clue.

  12. oldtimer says:

    We will then be able to say “we also have our traditur.

  13. JPS says:

    Franco Debono is a primadonna and clearly a liability to the party. Nonetheless, I also find myself cringing when I see or hear Paul Borg Olivier.

    Paul has no charisma or political vision and his failed attempts in recent elections (even with a surname which should help) are proof that he is also a waste of time and big-time loser.

    These two act as if they are some big shot politicians….. Another example of ‘big fish – small pond, syndrome’.

    • J Abela says:

      Fully agree. I always thought Paul is a pompous liability to his own party.

      • Jozef says:

        Agreed.

        Paul was pathetic on Bondi+. If he really intends to evolve the party and its policies he should be hard at work.

        Workshops prevent the degeneration of policymaking. His role is to see the process through, not the editing of their contents.

  14. ciccio2011 says:

    So was Labour’s billboard (picture above), showing Franco’s face and using words like “mohhok mistrieh” intended to take advantage of Franco mental state, after all?

    From what has been reported in the newspapers about what he said, this man should quickly hand in his resignation from all posts of relevance and look after his health – that comes before his concern for democracy.

  15. David Ellul says:

    Do you think that Gonzi should call an election next year to put an end to this constant threatening by his backbenchers?

    Michael Falzon (PN) is saying that there is no way out for the PM but to call an election, whilst Joe Saliba is saying that an election is not a solution.

    In 1998 Alfred Sant was in a similar situation and decided to go to the polls, should Gonzi do the same?

    [Daphne – Definitely not. Sant’s decision made him look intemperate, impulsive and out of control, with the expected results. Franco Debono is not a former prime minister. He is a jumped-up prat, and should be made to understand that he is a jumped-up prat.]

    • P Shaw says:

      Michael Falzon’s ‘advice’ only refelcts the wishful thinking of Malta Today’s gang. He is part and parcel of Saviour Balzan’s stable and business partner to the disgraced Sandro Chetcuti.

    • gogemini says:

      The situation today is unlike that of 1998, not because FD is not an ex-prime minister, but because Sant was (and still is) a man of principle.

      Gonzi on the other hand, has no such principles to defend if the price to pay is the ultimate one.

    • “He is a jumped-up prat, and should be made to understand that he is a jumped-up prat.”

      How?

      [Daphne – The first and most obvious way is to stop treating him as though he is NOT a jumped-up prat.]

    • Ray Spiteri says:

      So Daphne is so afraid we go to the polls? Ha Ha Ha.

    • R.Spiteri says:

      WHY ARE YOU SO AFRAID WE GO TO THE POLLS. EX GONZIPN

    • BC says:

      Obviously the Valletta project would have to be ready before calling an election……or else Gonzi would only have the fountain in front of parliament to be “praised for”.

  16. Neil Dent says:

    Dr. Debono is clearly a man obsessed with his own *perceived* self-importance, and that obsession will surely be the end of him – in the political arena, of course.

    I’m quite sure he even imagines that his current attempts at gaining sympathy (miskin Franco….health issues….built his office up from nothing…..leaving Malta and his family for Italy) are actually working, with the general public warming to him in their thousands due to his sorry plight and valiant quest to solve the nations biggest concern – that of the joint Justice/Home Affairs Ministry.

    How epically wrong he is.

    Recent reference to stress-related health issues only serve to make Dr. Debono appear weak, and we are left to infer that the issues he refers to are of the type you have suggested in this article, Daphne.

    That may get him a degree of sympathy, but of the wrong kind.

    The general reaction would be one of mistrust, with regards to Dr. Debono’s parliamentary position, and his series of dummy-spitting tantrums.

    This latest episode is his most serious to date but, if not sternly and swiftly dealt with by the PN, I’m 100% sure it will not be his last.

  17. GiovDeMartino says:

    His great loyalty!

  18. yor/malta says:

    Can the PN please start mentally vetting their candidates please? Some simple Q and A should do the trick .

  19. Anthony Briffa says:

    I think Dr. Debono should stop praising himself for what he is says he managed to achieve in such a young age.

    We are not interested and we are even more uninterested in his wish to become a minister also at such a ‘young age’.

    Should Dr. Gonzi, give in and appoint this spoilt brat as minister, there is not much time left to put through all the changes that are required in the justice system in Malta.

    I am sure that with the demands of his fellow lawyers and judges, he will only be able to scratch the surface of the problem.

    He should also keep in mind that with this attitude, he will for sure not be allowed to contest on the PN ticket again, win or lose for the PN.

    And should the PN allow him to contest on its ticket, I am sure that the electors in his district will ignore him when the time comes for voting.

    Same as it will happen to those PN back benchers who were causing all these problems from behind the backs of those voters who trusted them to represent them in Parliament.

  20. worried says:

    From what I read, not knowing the person, he seems to need psychiatric/psychological assistance.

    He seems to have some form of agitated depression with possible psychotic elements (an underlying narcissism is probable as well, as it is inherent in many public figures).

    It could have been precipitated by stress, and by seasonality.

    I think he would benefit from professional help, say from someone like Dr Joe Cassar.

    One must understand that if the outbursts are secondary to this psycological problem one has to have empathy, but at the same time, the fact that he holds the balance of power is dangerous.

    He is probably right in wanting to split ministeries, but I do not think the method and medium he is using is the right one.

    So to end my rant, if he has these underlying psychological issues, one must be understanding, but at the same time seeking professional assistance ( not from a GP) would be desirable.

    • R.Spiteri says:

      Kemm tahseb li il poplu hu cucc. mela min jikritka li GONZIPN ghandu bzon il kura. Vera miskin inti u ghandek ragun tkun worried ghax daqt jaqa il gvern tal klikkek. ex gonziPN

      • La Redoute says:

        Ray Spiteri – no, not quite. Plenty of people have criticised government policy and cabinet members without exhibiting the symptoms of a personality disorder. It is the latter that is most disconcerting in Debono’s case, and not the former.

    • M'intix wahdek says:

      “…but at the same time seeking professional assistance ( not from a GP) would be desirable.”

      He can try contacting the Fondazzjoni M’Intix Wahdek, where the future Minister for the South – the one you call when you drop your pills in the lavatory – will be more than willing to help.

  21. ray says:

    Gonzi should split ministeries. Mifsud Bonnici takes one, whilst Gonzi can take the other, whilst suggesting that he does not see any suitable backbenchers for the post. That will put the primadonna in his place.

  22. ta' sapienza says:

    Bravo Daf.
    My sentiments exactly.

  23. Leonard says:

    Franco Debono Kurtz

  24. Antoine Vella says:

    Perhaps a deal could be sruck in the sense that the Ministry for Justice and Home Affairs is split (which would not, in itself, be a bad thing) on condition that Franco Debono emigrates to Italy and gives up his parliamentary seat.

    In Italy he’ll find many Mafiosi needing his skills as a criminal lawyer and he could even join Beppe Grillo to form the Histrionics Party.

  25. Lupin says:

    Would you forward me your email address please? Thank you.

    [Daphne – [email protected]]

  26. John Schembri says:

    The part which says that he wished to go to Italy together with his family shows how this 37-year-old mammone has not disengaged from his mummy’s skirt.

    Couples half his age have already started a new life together abroad, alone .

    Why does he need to tow his ‘family’ with him to Italy – can’t he cope alone or at least with his girlfriend?

    • La Redoute says:

      He did not say he wishes to go to Italy with his family. He said he so badly wants to work in Italy that he is even willing to give up his family.

      Like anyone else could (or does) give a damn.

  27. Matt B says:

    http://mattborgi.com/2011/12/22/franco-debono-plays-the-sympathy-card/

    Debono is simply a cowboy who, despite the fact that he states otherwise, really and truly is doing what he’s doing for personal gain. I can’t think of it being any other way.

    There are ways and means in which an MP should bring up issues in Parliament, and the way how Franco Debono does it is definitely not one of them.

  28. Joe Micallef says:

    What a pity!

    Typically the characteristics of one with a very high IQ, so high that he is neither at peace with himself or with others.

    People with such traits can hardly ever understand the mechanics or least work in a team – the few that do become legends! EFA comes to mind.

    • La Redoute says:

      Debono’s antics are not characteristic of someone with a very high IQ. They are characteristic of someone obsessed with himself, and his own needs and expectations.

      • Joe Micallef says:

        Le Redoute, whilst I can agree with you, you will find that the characteristics you defined are also common with people having a very high IQ. Such people find it hard to interact with others.

      • La Redoute says:

        Such nonsense. Debono’s ‘characteristics’ are no more than an adult version of toddler tantrums. Toddlers have age on their side. When was the last time you saw Dr Fenech Adami (senior) behave like this?

  29. Ray Camilleri says:

    Hahaha! lol!

  30. J Abela says:

    I must say. I can never vote for a person who uses blackmail as a tool for personal gain.

  31. C. Nicall says:

    He’s representing views and concerns of a large section of the population. As a sitting Member of Parliament, this means he is “doing his job”.

    Of course, Daphne and the rest of the PN politburo would much rather everyone toes the line and bows down in servile homage to the G̶r̶e̶a̶t̶ ̶D̶e̶a̶r̶ Magnificent Leader Gonzi.

    Personally, I think it’s wonderful that this wet fart of a Prime Minister will soon be humiliated and brought down to earth. Long time coming. So sweet.

  32. m said says:

    Worth informing your readers that this is not the first time that Justice and Interior responsibilities were placed within same Ministry. I recall the late Guido Demarco being responsible for both portfolios.

  33. P Shaw says:

    If Gonzi gives in and rewards Franco even further, all the other backbenchers will be justified to use the same bullying tactics.

  34. Dee says:

    @Ms DCG; I agree with every single word you wrote in that article of yours.

    If I was the PM I would split the ministry and give the new post to someone else and tell Dr Debono to go and make love to himself.

    One cannot keep appeasing this attention-seeker in the hope that he shuts up because he will most certainly not shut up, no matter what! He should be ordered to make an appointment with a shrink! He is in dire need of one.

  35. mc says:

    Dr. Debono’s behaviour is totally baffling.

    He worked so hard for so many years to get elected to Parliament. Now he is doing his very best to destroy his political career.

    Blackmailing the Prime Minister is not on; it is political suicide, even if Dr. Debono may be right about his stand on MJHA.

    The illogicality of it all convinces me that he does need the attention of a psychiatrist.

  36. David Gatt says:

    x riha ta hruq !

  37. Dee says:

    Is Franco Debono trying to do to Laurence Gonzi , what Mintoff did to Boffa several decades ago?

  38. Albert Farrugia says:

    So it has come to that. Those who dissent, in a way which really hurts the government, are now being labelled as insane. Exactly what used to happen to dissidents in Communist regimes. Much to think about this Christmas Eve

    [Daphne – No, Albert. There actually is a problem. You’ve noticed that I’ve said many things about John Dalli, but never that he has mental health issues. Do you remember Jo Said and all the public scenes he created against Lawrence Gonzi and the Nationalist Party in the last general election? And how I said there was something mentally not quite right there? Then it turned out that he is receiving a distability pension because he suffers from some kind of ‘social’ disorder and severe depression.]

  39. silvio says:

    I absolutely do not agree with what Dr.Debono is doing, but I likewise do not agree that one should suggest that he should seek psychiatric treatment ,just because I do not agree with him.

    [Daphne – Silvio, it is not because I disagree with what he does that I think he needs psychiatric treatment, but because all the signs are there that he needs it.]

    Actually it is not what he wants that I do not agree with, but the way he is doing it.

    I think it’s time for Dr Gonzi to say this is enough, and come what may Dr.Debono will surely not stop here and I said it before, Dr.Gonzi is wasting too much time and energy, watching his back .

    • No Problem says:

      Dr Debono is accusing Dr Gonzi that he is not keeping his word because he promised that he shall split the Justice and Home Affairs Ministry before the end of this year.

      I would like to remind Dr Debono that he also promised Dr Gonzi his loyalty.

      Dr Debono himself asked Dr Gonzi for a confidence vote in the PN, and he voted for it, but now, all of a sudden he is going back on his word.

      Il-mama tieghi kienet tghidli, “Il-Paljazza ma tonxoriehx fuq il-bejt.”

      U meta xi darba kien ikolli xi nuqqas ta’qbil mal-mara quddiemha, kienet tghidli, “Mur id-dar, tkellem l-affarijiet wahdek fuq mejda mal-mara, sibu soluzzjoni intom, ghax meta titkellem madwar mejda, l-affarijiet jibqghu zghar, jibqghu bejnietkom. Jekk iddahhlu lili l-problema flok tikber tickien.”

      He should have gone to the PM and talked to him personally to settle matters there.

  40. 'Angus Black says:

    Advice that he should see a psychiatrist is most valid but he will not take it, unless …. the PM splits the Justice Ministry and gives the other half to, say, Beppe FA.

    That would certainly flip Franco and if he does not see a psychiatrist voluntarily, then maybe he should be referred.

  41. A. Charles says:

    Debono says that single-handedly he has achieved a lot.

    Somehow I do not believe that his actions and histrionics now are his own but that he is being pushed to his doom by some hidden hand whose sole interest is the end of Gonzi’s government.

    • La Redoute says:

      Debono’s actions and histrionics are entirely his own. Those are his words quoted above. Is he being egged on? Most certainly. But his behaviour is his own responsibility.

  42. Anthony says:

    There is only one way to deal with the likes of Franco Debono.

    Unfortunately that way does not feature in the PN manual, never has and never will.

    It is completely alien to the basic Christian Democratic beliefs of the party.

    The PN will have to appease this deranged man.

    It will have to weather the storm the hard way.
    ,
    There is no alternative.

  43. Pecksniff says:

    What Franco needs is a handful of anti-depressant pillis washed down with a bottle of scotch.

  44. kenneth says:

    While governments in the EU collapsed because the markets dictated so, while most EU banks have been downgraded to negative, while a country theoretically defaulted and five others have passed on harsh austerity measures that civil revolts and strikes are expected, while the Euro is on the verge of collapse because EU major powers cannot agree on the fiscal pact, in Malta we have Dr. Debono who first wanted to call early election because Arriva buses aren’t on time and now because the reforms he proposed and which have been accepted by prime ministerhaven’t been effected before Christmas.

    How petty can this country be.

  45. Dem-ON says:

    Franco Debono presents…Arani issa…Trid tara biex temmen…fuq Super One TV.

  46. Adrian says:

    “Take it from me: the only way to deal with somebody like this is to blow him out of the water. Out-bully him. Send him to hell. Tell him to go and eff himself.

    You don’t appease people like Franco and Jeffrey. You scare the crap out of them. When did that Jeffrey put his tail between his legs and scuttle off into the promise of retirement?”

    That’s why Mintoff was a good leader, you’re showing that you nothing better than your beloved enemy.

  47. david says:

    Stop speaking about narcissism in lay terms. The PN should seriously look up the dsm4r for narcissistic personality disorder. People with narcissism rarely seek help or are the last ones to do so. Very worrying. Look up narcissistic personality disorder.

  48. Anton says:

    @ worried…hit the nail perfectly on the head. The irony of it all is that this Lilliputian island has Lilliputian issues. I suggest that each party before the next election carries out serious candidate analysis before acceptance.

  49. xmun says:

    The comparison with Mintoff stops at the tantrums. Remember that Mintoff was the ‘salvatur’ or so he thought of Malta and whilst his appointed leader KMB was his puppet, he soon enough realised that Alfred Sant was his own leader and so Mintoff found himself in the cold.

    Alfred Sant’s mistake was that he took Mintoff on board to win some votes and the election. The rest is history.

    Franco, on the other hand, is a spoilt child. He wants to rule the world and he wants it now, under his terms and conditions

  50. Ray Spiteri says:

    Mhux ahjar mort tisma l quddiesa ta nofs il lejl. kemm tiflah tkun insolenti. jekk jaqa l gvern to gonzipn milli jidher ghandek hafna xtitlef. kieku jiena kont flok Dr Debono ILLUM NIRRIZENJA WARA L KITBA TIEGHEK. Possibli GonziPN jaccetta li inti thammex il partit bdan il mod. inti kull ma qed tghamel hu li tnaffar vottanti milli jivutaw jergaw PN. Jien wiehed minhom. EX GONZIPN

    • Gahan says:

      X’ghamillek GonziPN biex int irrabjat daqshekk Ray?

      L-ikbar hsara li qed jaghmel lil PN huwa Franco bl-immaturita politika li qed juri.

      Ara jekk hux qed nifhmek sew , int eks-GonziPN, u trid lil-Prim Ministru jwaqqaf lil Daphne milli tikritika lil Dr Lawrence Gonzi u Dr Paul Borg Olivier ghax qed jippruvaw igibu f’sensieh lil Franco Debono.Dawn it-tnejn ta’ l-ahhar ‘izeghlu’ bih fil-waqt li Daphne taghtu hasla kif imiss.

      U inti li diga tlaqt mill-PN qed tinkwieta ghal-Partit Nazzjonalista?

      Hawwadni ha nifhmek!

      Nahseb iktar int ridt xi haga li mhux bi dritt li jkollok u qed twahhal f’GonziPN taht skuza ohra.Bhalek naf hafna.

      Sena ilu rajna x’kilna fil-Milied u x’se nieklu fl-ahhar tas-sena , imma gie da u ghamel bhal Mintoff , serqilna l-ispirtu tal-Milied.

      Qala hasla miz-zewg gazzetti bl-ingliz:

      http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/en/blogsdetails/blogs/In-coalition-with-Franco

      http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111225/editorial/A-political-Christmas-.399821

      Lil Daphne nixtieqilha li jkollha sabar iktar milli qatt kellha qabel, minbarra ix-xewqat tal-festi t-tajba.

      Nittama li kellek Milied mimli ferh, Sinjura Daphne.

  51. R.Spiteri says:

    Shame on you for calling Franco names I wonder who needs psychiatrist assistance. Most of your bloggers seems to be terrified of an early election. Ex GONZI PN.

  52. R.Spiteri says:

    mela tezisti c censura. only pro gonzi pn comments allowed. Keep rocking the boat Franco. They all have much to loose who ARE calling you names. EX GONZIPN

  53. Karl Flores says:

    Merry Xmas. Enjoy :-)) dear Daphne.

  54. Joseph Borg says:

    According to Dr Debono law students have to start afresh studying the criminal code as well as Civil Code and Procedure.

    I think the best thing for Dr Debono is to take the advice of real Labour supporters as well as ex Labour members to behave like a real gentleman and think of good things for the country.

  55. Joe Borg (iz-zuzu) says:

    Dr Franco Debono, has his legitimate reasons to speak up.

    I’m fed up with the Prime Minister ignoring important advice from his fellow colleagues, & more so ignoring injustice from his fellow electorate. Otherwise I would be happy living here.

    Wishing you all a merry Christmas.

    • John Schembri says:

      Important advice…. separating the Police from the Courts. Yes, people have been demanding and protesting in the streets for this thing for the last four years or so.

      As if there can’t be a anything which two ministers can’t fix.

      Franco picked the wrong fight against Gonzi in the name of the people.

      Why not go on hunger strike like ManuMaltes? Gonzi will visit him for sure with two kiwis to hand.

      Who will take care of the prisons?

  56. Dunstan says:

    We want a circus without animals, fair enough – but could we please have a parliament without clowns.

  57. Philip says:

    This is one hell of a screwed up guy, so let’s forget him for today.

    Hope you’re having a wonderful Christmas Daphne. Love and best wishes from all of us to you and loved ones.

    [Daphne – Thank you, and the same to you, too.]

  58. kev says:

    For those who want to instruct themselves out of the rut of foggy ignorance, here’s something to watch:

    G. Edward Griffin: The Collectivist Conspiracy (video) – http://youtu.be/dON5D6Wkprw

    The rest are encouraged to immerse themselves deeper in the world of their Jackie-Magazine-Come-To-Life idol.

    • TROY says:

      Yes Kev,produced by PRISONtv, a bunch of lifers.

      • kev says:

        Indeed, Jackie, indeed. PrisonTV, eh…

        If only you knew how ridiculous you look to people in the know you’d be too embarrassed to make a comment under a nick, let alone show yourself publicly.

    • La Redoute says:

      Ah, Kev. He never fails to disappoint. Have you nothing more original to say? You’re forever quoting others’ conspiracy theories.

      What, exactly, is your net contribution to the world?

      • kev says:

        What can I say, La Redoute? That I care very little of what your pea-brain thinks? Now that’s a truth. And you can hardly do anything to change it.

      • el bandido guapo says:

        @kev

        You seem to care quite a bit about what others think, otherwise you would not be on here trying to influence them with your endless conspiracy theorist links and comments.

      • La Redoute says:

        Oh, you care all right. Here you are, taking the time to reply to a ‘pea-brain’ when you’ve got the whole world to take on AND your demanding duties as a ’24/7 activist’. What can I say? Your net worth is incalculable because it is negligible. Now that’s a truth. And you can hardly do anything to change it.

    • Harry Purdie says:

      Hey Kevvy. Any New Year’s resolutions?

      How about ‘spend more time in the kitchen’, I hear Sharon is getting pissed at the number of dirty dishes around when she arrives home.

  59. carmel says:

    Gonzi must act or else?

  60. mark v says:

    Someone please tell franco the blunt truth. His country can do without him. The Nationalist Party will get rid of him. Labour will not want him in their ranks (not even fit for Joseph’s skip).so he might as well go to italy and get it over with.

  61. Lomax says:

    Dear Daphne, just a couple of words to wish you (belatedly) a Happy Christmas. Christmas is always a mad rush – wanted to send this before but I didn’t manage.

    Anyway, hope you had a lovely day and I wish you the very best for the new year.

    [Daphne – Thank you. Best wishes to you, too.]

  62. Ooooops says:

    He needs to get off his high horse, and shut the eff up.

  63. Max says:

    Well done and well said Daphne….

    I am afraid that Franco needs some serious help. He is becoming a nonsense and an emberrassment to himself, the government and most of all to all his family and relatives.

    With a sane frame of mind one will not resort to such actions.

    • John Schembri says:

      I can see something in common between what we experienced in the 80’s and this North Korean experience.

      People being treated like mushrooms i.e. kept in the dark and fed bullshit.

      They could need some sensitive liberator to see to it that on Kim Il Sung’s birthday he gives the new president an ultimatum to separate the powers of the minister of fish and chips.

      He will end up in a Gulag where the suffering wouldn’t be harsher than what he suffered here in Malta.

      Did you know that Labour MP George Gatt was Kim Jong Il’s mentor while the latter was studying English here in Malta?

      Season’s greetings Daphne.
      Hope you enjoyed ,Christmas.

    • Grezz says:

      Although I know what you mean, anything would be more fascinating than Franco Debono.

    • Peppi iehor says:

      Isn’t NK the absolute proof that ignorance is bliss?

      I remember the frequent paid-for full-page “sermons” of Kim Il Sung in the British tabloids of decades ago.

      Ah Yes! Communism and socialism… They purport to mean common ownership of national assets and the equal sharing of benefits by the masses… so, why did two million die of starvation while others became obese through over-indulgence?

      And in Malta, why were some appointed to military-conditioned corps like “tad-dejma” or “pijunieri” while others appointed themselves demi-gods?

  64. Disinterested Bystander says:

    Excuse my ignorance, but what job would he do in Italy please?

    cheers

  65. e-ros says:

    Now we know that Franco Debono is coming on Xarabank accompanied by ….. wait for it ………….. his mother! WTF? “Look mummy, I am so important that I have managed to get you on State TV”

  66. PG says:

    Next Xarabank televoting question should be : ‘ Do you agree with with the way Franco Debono is acting ‘. I’d bet he would be in for the fright of his life with the response. The general public is utterly disgusted at this person’s behaviour.

  67. edgar says:

    He would fit perfectly in the cast of Grande Fratello.

  68. Jo says:

    Franco, are you by any chance trying to emulate Mintoff?

    You succeeded very well in that you managed to ruin the Christmas spirit for quite a lot of us.

    Compared to other countries we’re doing really well – thanks to GonziPN, and you should be proud to be part of the team.

    On another tack “Il-kumplament tal-festi t-tajba” to you all but especially to Daphne.

    Thank you for all that you do, Daphne.

    • int xi zibel bhala jaqaw?

      • H.P. Baxxter says:

        The technical word is “hmieg”.

      • etil says:

        Why do your type of people continue using certain Maltese adjectives. The word you have used has long since passed its expiry date.

        Grow up and accept the fact that others may not agree with your reasoning as we accept the fact that the PL have policies that we may not agree with.

        We do not call the PL the word you used.

        This smells of a political party that is once more continuously instigating hatred, and envy instead of criticising government in a constructive manner.

        Read their newspapers, and listen to their Radio never have they ever said anything good of this government.

        Theirs seems to be an easy job, all they do is find out what has gone wrong and they amplify it.

        The President said that the ‘people’ want unity. I would say that indeed the ‘people’ want unity but this should also be addressed to certain politicians whose main aim is to continuously foment hatred and envy through their newspapers and radio.

  69. Taks Fors says:

    I was spending my time in the doldrums
    I was caught in the cauldron of hate
    I felt persecuted and paralyzed
    I thought that everything else would just wait
    While you are wasting your time on your enemies
    Engulfed in a fever of spite
    Beyond your tunnel vision reality fades
    Like shadows into the night

    Not my words of course, but the lyrics from Pink Floyd’s ‘Lost for words’. Why do I think they perfectly fit the ‘man’ who not only wants to dictate Gonzi and the whole PN how to act but also in which timeframe?

  70. Marie says:

    Franco Debono is a mummy’s boy deluded with self importance, and when his bluff is called, he will crumble. I should know, I was married to one such person.

    • Dee says:

      Franco is a typical “mammone”. They talk big, but when the going gets tough, they use real or imagined illnesses as a smokescreen to gain sympathy.

      If that does not work, it’s off to mummy and daddy or else scarpering abroad beyond anyone’s reach after switching off mobile and changing email address.

      My sympathies to his long suffering mummy and his partner, if he has one.

      What an immature egocentric selfish cowardly excuse of a man!

  71. Marie says:

    At his age he is not even able to run his own home in Malta, but he really thinks he can run a home and a professional office in Italy? Grow up, little boy.

  72. pazzo says:

    Is it true that Franco is going to be accompanied by his mum….well,well,well…it takes two to tango. Be prepared for a nice show. Surely, Xarabank is going to make a hit.

  73. David Ellul says:

    Someone here said that the condition mentioned by Franco Debono portrays him as weak. I seriously beg to differ here. Anxiety attacks are definitely not signs of weakness.

    It is a very common symptom after a period of intense stress.

    The effect of stress is different on people – on some it doesn’t have any effect as they are persons who couldn’t care less of anything, but some people experience anxiety symptoms as Dr Debono claims he has.

    Generally these people tend to worry too much about something and this worry results in severe stress or anxiety.

    It is a symptom which can easily be cured by off-the-shelf medicine at your pharmacy nearby.

    And no, psychiatrists are not the persons who treat this. Usually if symptoms persist people go to psychologists. Psychiatrists treat severe depression which is very different from anxiety.

    I wanted to make this clear as certain stigmas we have in Malta need to be eliminated in 2011.

    These facts can also be easily found through a simple Google search as well. I suggest before making sweeping statements please make sure you know the facts, as the public needs to be given the correct information.

    • John Schembri says:

      He’s worried because he can lose his parliamentary seat. Now he’s trying to discredit his next victim Schiavone, and then set PBO to eliminate him from the fifth district for him .
      Hit list:
      Hermann Schiavone,
      Louis Galea,
      Helen D’Amato,
      Manuel Delia ,
      Dr Hermann Schiavone
      and next maybe Architect Toni Bezzina(?)

  74. oldtimer says:

    A good read by Austin Sammut in today’s The Times – good advice to Franco as well.

  75. Grezz says:

    OH. MY. GOD. Maltese English has really found its way into The Times: naghmlu find-out:

    “Mr Cauchi could not say when the works will start but that a FIND-OUT of what needs to be done and who has the technical know-how to carry it out had been identified.” ( http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111227/local/Source-of-the-fountain.399936 )

  76. martin says:

    u tuh ftit break misskin imbad titkazaw bil labour intkhom u inti daphne ajdli ftit x differenza tamilek il kas ta franco debono ?? ax da lilek ma amilek xejn … nahseb lool ?? andkhom ragun tajruh u teduh bil pulit jekk mawn had sur franco jien wihed mili jamirawk li irnexilek tiqaflu lil dan il gvern ul klikka ta madwaru .. grazzi sur franco .. martin cardona :) ax bdw awn hafna ma jurux min huma u juzaw ishem falz jien mandiex alfejn

  77. Orlando Ellul Micallef says:

    Best wishes for the new year to you and your loved ones.

  78. if someone wants to buy a ticket for franco to go to italy i m ready to buy a ticket for daftny to go to swaziland.

  79. r.spiteri says:

    @La Redoute
    So you seems to be obsessive with GONZIPN & DCG. Mela mhemmx bejh mil hanut. Sa fejn naf jien La Redoute is a boutique of French fashion. Il hin kollu fuq il blog ta DCG.
    Ex Pn

    • el bandido guapo says:

      You need treatment, mate. You have an obsession, and it’s right here, in front of your eyes.

    • etil says:

      R. Spiteri – you always sign off ex-PN. What has the PN done to you?

      Surely the PN has done some good for Malta.

      No doubt it has made mistakes but as the saying goes it is only those who do something that make mistakes, others just sit back and complain, complain, and complain.

      If it is something personal, well I can only say that I vote for what I think is good for the country and not for my personal gain.

  80. mario farrugia says:

    povero Franco – u kemm sar jogobni ……

  81. The Sting says:

    This is one greedy pig. I remember him at some event at il-Fosos a couple of years ago screaming blue murder because someone wouldn’t let him in without a ticket – which he expected to receive for free as a parliamentarian.

    At that time I had no idea who he was, but later saw his face on the news.

    All this dust has not been raised in vain, the advertising has done his office well without paying a penny in publicity.

    When you compare him to our other Nationalist politicians, those who really know what sacrificing yourself for the party and party loyalties mean, the man has no shame.

    Appeasement has already been the cause of a World War when Adolf Hitler was given some space and the world powers thought that would keep him happy and quiet for some time. Let this blabbering idiot not get his way.

    I would love Dr. Gonzi to split Justice and Ministry of the Interior and put Dr. Mario Demarco to a very well deserved post of one of the Ministries. I would imagine Debono’s health to suffer a bad setback in that case.

  82. Paul Borg says:

    Ghaziz Dr, Debono. Huwa ta Unur ghalina l-Maltin li fil-Parlament ghandha lilhek, li bic-car qed turina li ghalik l-interess tal-poplu jigi l-ewwel u qabel kollox. Facilment nista nqabbel il-visjoni tieghek ma dik tal-leggendarju Manuel Dimech.

    Kif jaf kulhadd, dan meta ipprova jehoda kontra l-oppressjoni tal-Gvern Ingliz, kien ippersegwitat u eziljat. Id-differenza hija li Dimech biex jiggieled ghad-drittijiet tal-Maltin, hadha kontra Gvern Barrani Ingliz waqt li Dr Franco Debono biex jiggieled ghad-drittijiet tal-Maltin qed jehodha kontra Gvern Oppressur Malti.

    Ironikament dan bhall Dimech ukoll qed jigi ippersegwitat u ostakolat biex jaqdi d-dmirijiet tieghu bl-lejalta lejn il-poplu Malti.

    Il-Prim Ministru presenti jidher li qed jimxi fuq il-passi tal-mgharuf dittatur Nicolae Ceauşescu tar-Rumanija li meta l-poplu Rumen kien qed jiffaccja instabbilita u medjokrita fl-ghixien tieghu Ceauşescu nefaq miljuni kbar biex ghamel Parlament/Palazz gdid. Hekk qed issir hawn Malta minn Dr Gonzi.

    ONOREVOLI DR DEBONO, KURAGG IL-POPLU WARAJK. NASSIGURAK LI BHALL MANUEL DIMECH INTI SEJJER TNEBBET PAGNA GDIDA TA’ EROJIZMU FL-ISTORJA TAL-POLITIKA MALTIJA. IL-POPLU JIRRINGRAZZJAK

    • John Schembri says:

      Ghal li jista jkun mhux se jkun hal-Qormi il-Manwel Dimech tieghek?
      X’insult lejn Manwel Dimech, l-anqas in-nhar hdejn l-ilma.

  83. etil says:

    Read that – you always sign off ex-PN.

  84. Jack says:

    Dr. Debono should know when to play the “people’s card” more sagaciously. He cannot try to pull off that trick every month – mingling Arriva’s alleged non-performance with bias in a ministry… what next? A crusade about gas cylinders?

  85. Bellicoso says:

    From far enough a distance the maxim still holds. Franco Debono should ” dance with the girl that got him to the party” The rest is detail.

  86. oldtimer says:

    I think Dominic Fenech went straight to the point regarding Franco Debono. I do not think that it is honourable for Dr.Gonzi to give in to such absurd blackmail

  87. Jean says:

    Daphne you might have been right if this was an isolated back-bench incident.

    Over the course of this legislature, there was far too much back-bench upheaval.

    I’m surprised you don’t see this. In my eyes it boils down to very poor leadership on the part of the prime minister; muddled strategy and man-management skills from those advising him.


    [Daphne – There is very little you can actually do with the mentally unstable, Jean.]

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