JPO-Bartolo to present 'new and amended' divorce bill in Parliament today
The divorce debate is set to take a new dimension this week as a new and joint private member’s motion is expected to be presented in parliament today..
Informed sources have confirmed that nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and labour MP Evarist Bartolo who are fronting the yes campaign to divorce will be presenting a jointly-signed private member’s motion that would supplant the one originally presented by Pullicino Orlando last July.
A press conference is scheduled to be held this afternoon in Parliament.
The content of the new motion remains unknown, however it is expected to cause further political debate as it has now departed from being a sole move by a PN backbencher, but also a joint political effort by two members from opposing parties.
According to the Yes Movement the new motion is expected to include a series of amendments that improve on the original one presented in July by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
While Pullicino Orlando was unavailable for comment as he is away from the island, Evarist Bartolo told this paper that, “developments are expected,” stopping short of any additional information.
While the PN is still reportedly internally debating divorce, it is expected that the motion will be debated in Parliament this January, while it remains to be seen if Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will be calling a referendum during 2011.
But as the Yes to divorce campaign has launched itself with a cross-party committee that also includes Alternattiva Demokratika Chairperson Michael Briguglio, an unofficial No Campaign is slowly emerging from within the PN ranks, fronted by father figure Eddie Fenech Adami.
MaltaToday is informed that Eddie Fenech Adami has taken it upon himself to free Prime Minister and present PN leader Lawrence Gonzi from the burden of fronting the No campaign.
Internally the PN has been urging Gonzi to be cautious on fronting the No campaign, warning him on the possibility of further unrest within his already shaky parliamentary benches.