Nationalist MPs now waiting… and hoping

It is no longer in the government’s hands to establish the date of the next general election, according to Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo. He would rather see an election held in October and the government continuing with its work until then. “But I don’t believe it’s in the government’s hands anymore,” he told The Sunday Times yesterday. The Sliema MP said it was only a question of when the end would come but there were a lot of “ifs and buts that are not healthy for the country”. Like other Nationalist MPs who were asked about the latest political developments as the government headed for a crucial Budget vote on May 9, Mr Arrigo acknowledged the situation was “not easy” for the administration. On that day, Parliament will vote on a crucial money Bill that will implement the Budget measures. If the vote is lost the country could be heading for an early election. It is unclear what will happen on May 9 since backbencher Franco Debono, the MP at loggerheads with his own party, has not said how he will vote. But as the chapters of this political saga unfold, backbencher and former minister Jesmond Mugliett believes there is no “obvious” indication yet there is a...