Updated | The pro-divorce lobby launches new logo

She was speaking at the unveiling of the Moviment’s new logo that affirms the movement’s support not only for the right to divorce for couples who experience marital breakdown, but also ultimately for marriage itself.

“Saying we have many marriages in Malta means nothing if a large number of those marriages represent separated couples who have been living with other partners for years,” family lawyer Schembri said.

“We are fighting to provide the right for people to choose freely,” she said, “to ensure that everyone has the right to make that choice for themselves, and not to take rights away.” She maintained that this “withholding of rights” is wrong in itself.

“Those who are separated and not wish to remarry are not being forced to do so,” Schembri said, adding that at the same time, the state should not force individuals to cohabit with other partners following separations.

“People are still forming new couples following separations,” Schembri maintained. “Why shouldn’t the state recognise these couples?” She also said that children stemming from these new couples deserved recognition also.

While the legal distinction between ‘legitimate’ and ‘illegitimate’ children has been removed, the social stigma is still very present, she said.

Asked for a reaction to the establishment of an anti-Divorce movement, Schembri said what this means is that they are not opposing marital breakdown, but rather that couples who separate are not allowed to remarry.

“What we are saying is simply that those who experience martial break-up and separate are allowed the choice of whether to be able to remarry or not – while of course not imposing the choice of remarrying in any way on those who do not wish to,” Schembri said.

Schembri dismissed concerns that the introduction of the right to divorce would also mean a rise in a ‘divorcist mentality’. “Today, people are already getting married with the idea that the marriage will end if problems such as infidelity and abuse arise."

She said it would be nice if all marriage figures represented happy families, but the reality is different. “Dirvorce is all about calling a spade a spade,” Schembri said, pointing out that a couple who has been happily together for 20 years, and a couple that has been separated and cohabiting with other partners for the same amount of time are both ‘married’.

During the logo’s unveiling, PN MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando affirmed that if anything, the introduction of divorce would lead to more marriages, and not less, as those couples who see their marriages breaking down and wish to remarry would be able to do so.

“It does not make sense to promote cohabitation before we establish the right to divorce,” Pulllicino Orlando said, adding that if this were the case, Malta risks ‘establishing’ first class and second class de facto marriages.

Schembri also confirmed that a meeting with prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has not taken place as yet. As the ‘intermediary’ between Gonzi and the movement, Pullicino Orlando said that a meeting is pending the selection of a mutually-suitable date.

Also speaking during the press conference,  PL MP Marlene Mizzi reminded the public that divorce is already recognised in Malta for those Maltese who are married to foreigners or are wealthy enough to be able to live abroad for the necessary amount of time.

“This is a case of clear discrimination against those Maltese couples and those who do not afford to live abroad,” she said.

Asked about whether the movement plans to start actively campaigning with the public, Schembri said that a meeting with all those who expressed interest in cooperating with the group is in the pipe-line, and that further activities would be announced later on.

She also emphasised that the movement plans to communicate with the public through the media.