Student group appeals for PN to revert to unnofficial position on divorce

The group said that if the decision had to be taken by a popular referendum, and that political parties should not take a stance on the issue so as not to influence the public. “Taking a stance shows lack of political maturity,” Move said.

“The same way Lawrence Gonzi said he will give a free vote to all MPs with respect to a parliamentary vote, he should give the same free vote to citizens, and not run a campaign on the position he took,” it said in a statement.

Move called for politicians to show maturity in their discussions, and for talks to be educative and informative, to avoid unnecessary rivalry. “For this reason we condemn blackmail - an MP should not threaten to resign just because of the issue of divorce," the movement said referring to statements by minister Austin Gatt. "An issue such as this, which is a civil right, should not be tainted by partisanship.”

The group added that the PN was being discriminatory towards the lesbian and gay community, as it continues to refer to the family as one exclusively including a man and woman. “This shows how our civil rights and mentality are still in the past.”