Divorces obtained from abroad are ‘insignificant number’
Anti-divorce lobby Zwieg Bla Divorzju said today the number of couples whose foreign divorce was recognised by the Maltese courts was on average “just 11 a year”.
In a statement, the movement said this was less than 0.5 per cent of the average 2,400 marriages registered in Malta every year. The statistic was based on divorces recognised between 2000 and 2010.
The Maltese courts recognise all divorces obtained in foreign courts, and Maltese nationals who set up domicile abroad can also obtain their divorce overseas and have it rubber-stamped in Malta.
Zwieg Bla Divorzju added that three from every four of divorces were from foreign spouses.
“It is worrying that the truth of these facts has not been revealed yet,” said Andre Camilleri, the chairperson of Zwieg Bla Divorzju. “Before deciding on divorce, an impact assessment of the decision should be made.”