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Divorce survey ‘provides ample food for thought’ - JPO
Divorce bill promoter MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has stressed that recent public opinion results offer “ample food for thought” as a relative majority has clearly established itself among PN voters who say they will vote in favour of his divorce bill in a referendum.
Reacting to a Xarabank survey that vindicated a pro divorce majority for his private members bill in two consecutive MaltaToday surveys, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that the result “indicates that 47% of PN voters are in favour of the divorce bill I presented, as opposed to 40% who are against.
“Of the PN voters in favour of divorce, 44% would remain loyal to the party even if the party takes a stand against divorce whilst 44% would either switch allegiances to the other party or abstain from voting.”
“I think this provides us with ample food for thought,” the outspoken PN MP said.
The survey showed that 60% of those interviewed favoured a referendum on divorce before the next general election, while confirming a majority at 56.3% of respondents would vote yes for divorce in a hypothetical referendum, based on Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s private member’s bill.
Two MaltaToday surveys asking the same question conducted in July and August had registered a pro divorce majority of 59%, slightly higher than the Xarabank survey but well within the margin of error of both surveys.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s private member’s bill, which is the only bill under consideration, limits the divorce option to couples who have been separated for more than 4 years.
But the Xarabank survey also shows that only 39.7% would vote for divorce in a hypothetical referendum, asking them whether ‘divorce should be introduced in Malta’. 47% would oppose it.
This result tallies with a Sunday Times survey published in August, which refrained from asking respondents how they would vote if divorce was introduced according to the Pullicino Orlando bill.
A MaltaToday survey conducted in August also showed lower support for divorce in this form of generic referendum, which is not based on any concrete legislative proposal. But the MaltaToday survey still registered a slight majority of 50.6% who would still favour divorce at least in certain circumstances.
The result of both the MaltaToday and Xarbank surveys shows that support for divorce in an eventual referendum depends on the wording of the question asked.
Similarly to MaltaToday, the Xarabank survey shows that the overwhelming majority of voters think that divorce should be introduced through a referendum.
The Xarabank survey indicates an increase in the number of those wanting a referendum on this issue, up from 58% in the MaltaToday July survey, to 67.3% in the more recent Xarabank survey.
The Xarabank survey shows a very high percentage of Labour voters (73.9% ) favouring divorce and a relative majority of Nationalists (47.4%) favouring divorce.
Similarly the MaltaToday survey showed 75.3% of Labour voters and 49.5% of Nationalist voters favouring divorce. As in the MaltaToday survey, Nationalist voters were more likely not to vote for their party again if it introduces divorce.
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well in the last 7 years In Malta an average of a marriage seperation a day happens legally- ( who knows how many more which are not reported) divorce getted from abroad registered here excepted( only the rich can do that since requires lots of money) etc.. etc....and our Hon.Prime minister keep saying we have a treasure -He is stubborn that he is not reasoning right about such issues -No hon. Jeffrey Pulicino orlando is a man (yes he is the man) only he had the guts that a real man needs to propose it in parlament.I wish that many are like him in parlament that are real not fakes(well i know for sure that a lot of them in the parlament knows that it should allready have ben introduced years ago .I believe that each member of parlament in his or her own will the majority of them even personally agrees with the simple divorce Lawwhich billions of people have this individual human rights(all the world except Malta and the Philippines for now) No one cannot divorce instantly that does not makes sense- In Malta was still and will be that a man or a woman will leave thier partners with or without divorce- so the law must be introduced for whom needs it. who is happily married have no wories by the divorce law since they are happily maried,even so if a man or awoman wants to leave they still can do it- thye don't need any divorce law to leave...- and divorce will be permitted at least 4 years after legal seperation..................
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I am 100% in favour of divorce, however, if a referendum is held over the issue I will not cast my vote as I feel it is a must and not the choice of others.
I have no religious sentiments over the issue as I feel it is my life and no one should even think of controlling it. Those who do not agree with divorce should not get married in the first place and leave other alone.
As to the church, first it must look at its own sins that comment about others.
As JPO I do not believe he is being honest and I believe that his only motive is to get divorce himself! Sorry Jeff, correct me if I’m wrong!
