I have heard many interesting interpretations of our constitutional laws over the years but the most recent one by Franco Debono must surely take the cake! I am, of course, no constitutional expert. I try to look at things in a non-legalistic way. What concerns me more is the layman’s view of what is or should be “the common good” rather than the nitty-gritty of the law.

First some facts. Dr Debono was elected to Parliament in 2008 on the Nationalist Party ticket and polled 2,065 first count votes from the 5th electoral district. In his press conference, he acknowledged that had he not contested on behalf of the PN, he would not have been elected to Parliament. That, to me, is a fundamental statement which will return to haunt him. Using his own type of argument, Dr Debono represents less than one per cent (0.7% to be exact) of the people’s total vote of 290,799 valid votes cast in the last general election.

He has, over the last year or so, vociferously disagreed with the Cabinet of Ministers over several issues and has now declared that he no longer supports the party in government. He has even gone so far as calling for the resignation of the Prime Minister stating, during his press conference, that “this is democracy”.

I too have disagreed with several of Dr Gonzi’s decisions. But here we are talking about the right and ability to govern. Here we have a situation where a member of Parliament is threatening to bring down a democratically elected government because perhaps the member has taken offence at not being elevated to ministerial status. Is this the democracy we want?

Am I to conclude that, according to Dr Debono, it is democratic to oppose the 143,468 citizens who voted in favour of the Nationalist Party and who rightly expect “their” government to serve a full term? His rather rich reading of the situation is that only the calling of a general election or the resignation of Dr Gonzi can save the day.

Why is Dr Debono not considering the other option on the cards? It is very obvious that he does not agree with his party leader and with the party which, in his own words, put him in Parliament in the first place. The obvious and honourable thing for him to do is to resign from the PN and give up his seat in Parliament. In this way he will respect the vote of all those who backed the PN at the last election and who should not be made to pay for his actions.

That, in my humble opinion, is what real democracy is all about. That Dr Debono should resign has been suggested by other commentators much more qualified than I. My hope must be that he reflects on what is best for our country, calls an immediate truce and that he respects the rules of the democratic game that I am sure he too is proud enough to uphold and defend.