PN stands firm as Busuttil says he is not against reconciliation with Franco Debono

Updated 10 p.m. - The Nationalist Party reacted sharply this evening after MEP Simon Busuttil told a caller in a Radio 101 phone-in that he was not againt reconciliation with Franco Debono and others, as long as everyone assumed his responsibilities. “The position of the party executive regarding Franco Debono stands, and the Nationalist Party is not for turning on this matter,” the party’s information director, Frank Psaila, said when contacted. The PN executive had voted to ban Dr Debono from contesting the general election on the PN ticket. The caller asked Dr Busuttil to comment on what appeared to be a conciliatory tone by Dr Debono in the past few days. Dr Busuttil said that, as luck would have he, he bumped into Dr Debono in Republic Street a few days ago, and people were amazed to see them chatting amicably with each other. He said he too had noted Dr Debono's conciliatory tone. "If there is a possibility of reconciliation and unity with Franco and all those who feel hurt, we should go for it, because the people want to see us united," Dr Busuttil said. "I am not saying that people should not assume their responsibilities. If I make a mistake, I will shoulder my...