'Prime Minister going back on his word to hold referendum' - Labour

Labour has accused Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi of going back on his word to hold a referendum on divorce.

Gonzi had claimed he felt divorce was not a matter to be legislated “by 65 MPs” without the people’s say in a referendum, when backbenchers Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had tabled his private bill without consulting the prime minister beforehand.

“Only a few weeks ago the prime minister was arguing that without an electoral mandate for divorce, a referendum had to take place. Today he is doing all he can to deny people that right on such a sensitive issue,” Labour said in a statement, reacting to the PN's motion against divorce today.

The PL accused Gonzi of contradicting himself and of showing inconsistency on the matter by declaring he would vote against the bill while hoping the people would have “the opportunity to vote in a referendum.”

Labour said Opposition leader Joseph Muscat’s position is in favour of a divorce law that would be backed by a popular electoral mandate, and to give his MPs a free vote.