A fresh look into the twisted corridors of Franco Debono’s mind
After listening to all the clips and soundbites again, I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a very real chance that Franco Debono (roll on the day just after the election is announced that we never have to hear that name again) will vote in favour of Anglu Farrugia’s motion.
The reason that I and others have thought generally that he would abstain is because we know that if he votes in favour, then an election will be called and he will be history immediately.
But the Nationalist Party is not going to allow him to stand on its ticket. The minute he is not even a candidate, let alone an MP, he becomes invisible and irrelevant. No newspaper is going to want to know what he thinks.
Kurt Sansone at The Times and Matthew Vella at Malta Today are going to discover another interest. Miriam Dalli and Joe Grima on Super One are going to have other, relevant guests.
When he rings reporters, they’re going to press ‘reject’, or just bar his number.
So within a year or two, the situation will be back to what it was in 2008: Franco who? Debono what? Oh, that jerk who brought down the government. What’s become of him?
But we can see this because we are not unbalanced in the way that vengeful suitors are unbalanced, which is Franco’s psyche right now. The man who barges into his former lover’s home and begins shooting or stabbing hasn’t worked out the consequences of his actions.
He is devoured in the moment by his need for revenge, a pressing hunger that has built up over a prolonged period to its climax. He plans his revenge, but he cannot see beyond that revenge to the consequences (prison).
This might be inconceivable to us. How can people not see the consequences? But when you’re consumed by rage and the need for revenge, you just don’t.
I am actually beginning to think that this is how Franco sees the situation. It is clear from his earliest statements that he wants to force Gonzi out. The way to do that is to vote with the Opposition, not to abstain.
Why would he do this if it means an election and his disappearance into ignominy?
It’s because he doesn’t think it means an election. Factor in his repeated references to the president and how the president can choose a prime minister other than the party leader.
It has just occurred to me that this seriously deluded man actually thinks that when Anglu Farrugia’s motion is carried, he’ll be summoned by the president who will tell him: “Franco, mexxi int.”
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I don’t think we need to over-analyse things.
There’s one word that sums up everything pretty adequately: petulance – and that’s what will make Franco Debono back Anglu Farrugia’s motion.
Wrong. He really does think that if the motion is carried, Gonzi will be knocked out and President Abela will roll out the red carpet from Castille to Hallelu Yah in Marsaxlokk.
[Daphne – He doesn’t live at Halleu Yah in Marsaxlokk. That’s his official residence, the one in which he refuses to live with his long-suffering tfajla. He lives in Hal Ghaxaq mal-mami u d-dedi. At 38.]
Franco knows that when he votes against the government his political career is finished, but he also knows its finished just the same now.
He’s happy to be known as the MP who sacrificed himself to bring down the Evil PN government. What’s so difficult to understand?
For some time I agreed with your theory that he had grandiose plans to become minister or even a PM or leader of the party, but I think now he realizes that his position is even weaker than ever.
Short of being made party leader and PM he won’t be satisfied and I think he knows this won’t be possible.
He knows he’s going down but he’ll bring the whole ship down with him, and he won’t feel remorse. He’ll even feel vindicated for having suffered so long, for being unjustly sidelined and never made a minister when he had talents and capabilities much more than Carm Mifsud Bonnici or Gordon Pisani.
In a few months’ time we’ll have a Labour government but I don’t think its necessarily bad. First of all I am fed up of hearing people grumble about anything done by this government, the bus reform, the Valletta entrance project, the Renzo Piano parliament and theatre, the harbour bridge and lift, the trees in front of the Auberge de Castille, the honoraria, the national curriculum, primary health care, waiting lists at the general hospital, the national debt, Gozo, the water and energy bills, income tax, and so many others.
I am assuming that this grumbling will now stop. Joseph will put everything under the sun right.
I also hope that the Nationalist Party will have the balls to clear out its dubious and crazy characters. I’m sure many will jump on the Labour bandwagon to make sure they are included in the new state corporation/board positions that will be available soon.
They don’t realize that Labour supporters have been waiting 25 years to get their hands in the pie and won’t allow it.
Overall, I think that the Nationalist Party will eventually come out much stronger than it is from the whole mess. As for Malta, well there’s Joseph now – he will lead us b’ghaqal kbir and he will solve all our problems.
If it doesn’t work out well, we’ll do like Franco says (but won’t – because he can’t even leave home, let alone Malta) and leave the country.
I’m not so sure that the PN in opposition will scrape off all the barnacles from its keel.
Look at Labour: they’ve been in opposition for ages and are as full of hangers-on as the PN.
“Oh, that jerk who brought down the government”…
In the context of your article, I think this should read “Oh, that jerk who ALMOST brought down the government”.
Franco Debono might be reasoning:
George Abela helped bring down Alfred Sant’s government in 1998, and he was rewarded by his law course classmate Lawrence Gonzi.
What if I bring down Lawrence Gonzi’s government? I might be rewarded with a technical ministry or EU Commissionerhood by old St Augustine classmate Joseph Muscat in a couple of years’ time.
[Daphne – George Abela was ‘rewarded’, if that’s the right word, for his support in working towards EU membership, which he did, and not for bringing down Sant’s government. You will remember that he was AGAINST a general election in 1998.]
You’re right, Daphne.
JoeM, the PL has an endless queue of people wanting to be appointed to all kinds of positions. Franco Debono doesn’t have the slightest chance of getting anything.
Franco Debono knows that at this stage his political career is over whichever way he votes. He may also have concerns about his law career, and that is why he’s toying with the idea of moving to Italy where fewer people know him and he can start a new life.
I hardly think Franco Debono will be history following the next election – whenever that takes place.
After all, our newspapers still report highly delusional outbursts from Mintoff, KMB and Sant.
[Daphne – They were all prime ministers and party leaders, William. You forget. Debono is a nobody: somebody who has been a backbencher for four years. When this is all over, nobody will even remember what he looks like. Who remembers Baldacchino the crossover? His daughter Arlette, Norman Lowell’s friend, is now better known than he is.]
Dear Daphne,
I too have long been wondering this, as Franco must surely realize that he is finished, whatever happens. Unfortunately I just had a disquieting thought.
Taking it as given that Franco wants to be one up on his school chum, I wonder if he has been promised a great prize, the Presidency, by Joseph.
Think about it before you discard the idea.
JM gets his wish, youngest PM and all that, Franco gets his reward, and youngest President, and both egos have been duly satisfied. Franco even manages to top his m8 as well, as President is nominally the leader of the country.
It’s a pity you’re not a consultant psychiatrist!
[Daphne – Not really. There’s one in the cabinet. Perhaps that’s why Franco’s so keen to join.]