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Updated: ‘Even if divorce exists worldwide, I shall not be moved’ – PM Lawrence Gonzi
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi stressed that he would “not be influenced if divorce was available the world over” and criticised MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s private member’s bill.
Speaking at Castille during the official launch of the Centre for Family Studies, a new institute at the University of Malta, the Prime Minister stood his ground on his adamant position against the introduction of divorce in Malta.
He referred to arguments on Malta being the sole country in the world without divorce and stressed that if the way forward in other countries was divorce, then “that was a matter for those countries and their societies to see to.”
He added: “what interests me is Malta, and I will not be embarrassed by anybody who came to tell me that my country was the only one that did not have certain rights.”
“I am not going to decide matters according to what is happening other countries,” the Prime Minister stressed.
He criticised the private members’ bill presented last July by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, and Tuesday's joint bill presented with Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.
“I think that on a serious matter such as the family, legislative proposals warrant serious thought and research before one goes to parliament and debate them,” Gonzi said.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s defiance at the fact that divorce is available across the world, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson accused Gonzi of adopting an “ostrich-like approach” and “burying his head in the sand from the reality of thousands of people.”
“It is very arrogant to assume that Malta knows better than all other countries in the world, and to date no other country has reversed its divorce legislation. It is clear more than ever that divorce is a political issue which can be solved through the vote.”
AD spokesperson for Civil Rights Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer added that AD is the only party with a clear position in favour of the introduction of divorce, “and it is for this reason that we form part of the YES movement.”
“The Prime Minister's statement has shown crass insensitivity and lack of compassion towards thousands of people who would like to re-constitute or regularise their family life,” AD concluded.
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U xi hadd stenna ahjar mill-ex President tal-Azzjoni Kattolika? Mitluf hawn Malta il-Gonz. Missu qieghed l-Afghanistan mat-Talibani jew l-Iran id f'id mal-Ayatollah.
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Unbelieveable! The PM has been comparing Malta's developments, achievements and failures (very few according to him) with the rest of the world since he took office. I can't remember the number of times that I've heared him comparing, mischievously, I dare say, our 'sound economic progress' (according to him) with other countries' performance and how well his government has weathered the economic storm (crisis) as opposed to other countries!
But on the divorce issue and the social difficulties it is posing on a number (not so small) of families, according to our PM, Malta is now again an Island and it can go all the way alone. Who gives a damn to what is happening around us!! Who cares about the impact we are absorbing from the fact that the world has now become one big village?
Dear PM, what is good for the goose is good for the gender, is it not? If you want to compare Malta's financial pathways (most often in not so 'like with like' situations), please also keep in mind the social arena, which, in all probability, is being affected in exactly the same way as it is affecting the rest of the developed countries.
Dr Gonzi, I tend to agree with a lot of comments posted by other readers before me: YOUR TIME IS.
Mark Fenech •
Dawn għalihom il-liġijiet tal-Knisja ma jeżiżtux għax jafu min fejn għandhom jgħaddu mhux bħat-tfal tagħna li jridu joqogħdu jikxfu l-warrani quddiem ħaddieħor.
Ħalluna warbu minn hemm. Mela fejn tridu Malta hija speċjali, ara fuq il-problemi finanzjarji dawk il-ħin kollu tħambqu li jolqtu lill kulħadd.
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WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM HIM? HIS UNCLE BISHOP GONZI , HE HIMSELF FROM THE MUSEUM SOCIETY, HIS UNCLE BISHOP GONZI IS ONE OF THE MOST RIDICOLOUS HYPOCRIT WHO EXISTED, USED TO BURY THE SOCIALISTS IN NON HOLY GROUND(WELL NOTHING IS HOLY , BUT THATS ANOTHER THING) SO WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM SUCH HYPOCRITS! LAWRENCE GONZI TOO MNAY PEOPLE GIVES ASHIT OF WHAT YOU SAY! DON'T THINK YOU ARE SPECIAL WITH YOU OR WITHOUT YOU THE DIVORCE LAW WILL COME IF NOT NOW LATER- AND YOU WILL BE JUST A PIECE OF A SHIT THAT OPPOSED IT-
THE PN ARE CONTROLLED BY THE VATICAN WHO THE PN BETRAYED MALTA BY GIVING THE CHURCH POWER OVER THE STATE IN MARRIAGE LOLLLL I WISH THE MALTESE OPENS THEIR EYES ,AND SOEMONE WILL KICK YOUR ASSS , MOTHER FUCKER GONZI
Adrian Busuttil •
My my are we expecting a Maltese politician to be sensitive to the needs of the people? Come now sensitive to the needs of his pocket, maybe, but not the people.
A very long time ago Gonzi and his cronies made me realise I am no longer a Nationalist - at least not THEIR type of Nationalist. I hardly expect one of them to do anything for the good of the country.
Luke Camilleri •
Jekk ikollhom bzonn ta' Gonzi imorru igibu ANNULAMENT ...kif jaghmlu ta' Fenech Adami.
Dawk QATT ma jkollhom bzonn divorzji- ghandhom l"Annulament - Id-DFivorzju stil Malti ghal Insara Ipokriti li jridu jsalvaw wicchom ma ta' madwarhom!
Keith Goodlip •
With every passing day, this guy proves himself to be number two in the dictatorial chain of command, passing down the rules from his boss in the Vatican.
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But what do people expect from a former Member of M.U.S.E.U.M, specially selected to be in control of Malta by EFA. This is a klikka of people that have only one thought. Keep Malta under the control of the Vatican.
Malta Cattolicissima.
All their actions are pointed this way and it will be a very keen fight if things are ever going to change. So don't expect anything else.
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“I am not going to decide matters according to what is happening other countries,” the Prime Minister stressed.
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.....except, of course, the Vatican.
Igor P. Shuvalov •
Gonzi is against divorce but proposes co-habitation. Both of them are condemned by the church.
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If Dr Lawrence Gonzi wants to be consistent with what he says, he should forfeite his scandalous 600 euros rise per week, and consider, instead, the plight of the newly married whose increase is a miserly 1.16 per week. Since actions speak louder than words, may I ask why voted against the extension of maternity leave? He is part of the problems being faced by the married couples
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Good morning PM Gonzi. Your time is up and you are showing it by being outdated and not in touch with your people. You look as if you are enjoying your supremacy by suppressing the rights of the few/or many. What gives you this right? You are there on borrowed time and you will regret it because you are hurting so many of us be it in divorce or high tariffs. I was once a staunch nationalist but not anymore. Your sarcasm has put me on the other side of the fence. Bye see you soon in the opposition benches.
Sign Tooooooo much of the same rhetoric.
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Dear Pm have you ever considered of engaging your brains while opening your mouth.You have no say whatsoever in divorce referendum .If you care so much for the family why don't you reverse the the decision to reward yourself and your clowns with 600 extra euros per week and give it to the struggling families?Bunch of hypocrites .
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Has this guy gone crazy? Whatever makes him think that most cares whatever he says?
It’s what the people needs that matters and not what one man thinks. Divorce will soon show that the people are no longer lead by some outdated institution who thinks that they still rule the country.
Malta belongs to the Maltese and not to the Vatican.
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@brancaleone
if a major referendum in this country was considered in favour, when X (no) + Y (absentees) resulted more than Z (yes)... then i can imagine another farcical outcome on another money-draining referendum!
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"... stressed that if the way forward in other countries was divorce, then “that was a matter for those countries and their societies to see to.”"
Funnily enough, the same Dr Gonzi wanted Malta to act like all the other "cool" European countries when it came to FULL membership with EU, the introduction on the Euro or any other "cool" agreement to sign!
Personally i find this to be yet another proof of how unclear Gonzi's vision is!
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So we have it: divorce is a right, announced the PM. What if the "yes to divorce" wins in the referendum, if indeed the issue is to be decided in a referendum? Is it the referendum that will decide or the PM personally? It is the latter that one deduces from the statement “I am not going to decide matters according to what is happening in other countries,”, assuming this report quotes him correctly. Isn't the PM painting himself into a corner here? Surely, if he is going for a referendum, his intention must be that of doing all he can to see divorce enacted according to the wishes of the majority if the result of the referendum is in favour of divorce. Would he still refuse to introduce divorce if the majority wants it? Is it majoirity will that shall prevail or that of the PM? And by this, I am still not advocating the fallacy that righs are a matter for referenda - rights exist and should be recognized and guaranteed irrespectively of the will of the majority. Still, if a referendum decides for divorce, I cannot see how it will be possible to continue denying the right of divorce and at the same call oneself democratic.
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Maybe Gonzi will be moved eventually - preferably out of office. Who is running this country anyways? You have ministers behaving like Afghan drug lords and you have the prime minister acting as the Taliban leader.
Good job everyone. Especially the people in whose name this person acts.
