The Longest Day

The possible defeat of the Budget tonight will bring about a collapse of the government, but this will still have been the longest legislature in 25 years, with the exception of Alfred Sant's 22-month government. Every legislature since 1987 has been shorter than the present one. Then Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici had, however, stretched out the  controversial 1981-87 legislature to the last possible day, with the legislature having taken its full five years plus the three months allowed after Parliament was dissolved. The election was held on the last possible Saturday allowed by law - May 9, 1987. Should the next general election be held on March 9, as is being speculated, it would be exactly five years and one day after the 2008 general election, held on March 8. Nationalist MP Franco Debono is showing no signs of backing down from his promise to vote against the government tonight, denying the government its one-seat majority. The vote will be taken some time after 8.30 p.m, depending on how long Dr Debono takes to explain his vote (timesofmalta.com will be carrying live coverage). The government will survive if Dr Debono abstains, since the Speaker will use his...