Muscat's motion on divorce sure to pass after Mugliett declares that he will back it

The question as to whether a question on referendum on divorce should be a detailed question as proposed by Labour leader Joseph Muscat, or a simple yes or no to divorce as proposed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, was rendered irrelevant by backbencher Jesmond Mugliett.

Mugliett yesterday evening declared he would vote with the Labour opposition’s motion for a referendum on divorce. With Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Jesmond Mugliett voting with a compact Labour party parliamentary group, Muscat is guaranteed success in his motion on divorce. The Nationalist government only has a one-seat majority in the house. The news will come as a disappointment and embarrassment for Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

In his parliamentary speech Mugliett said that he would be voting with the Labour party motion on divorce and that he would not vote for a cohabitation law since it "banalised" the arguments being put forward about the importance of the family.

During his speech in Parliament, former Cabinet minister Jesmond Mugliett argued it was not stands or crusades against divorce which defined the Catholic politician, but the value that he embraces during his day to day political life. 

“Values as upheld by the politician, relations with his rivals, how he treats people or organisations seeking his help by not helping those who could reciprocate with votes; how a politician upholds truth in every communication that he makes; by his lifestyle and finally by promoting politics where the end does not justify the means,” he said.

Mugliett also argued that in the divorce debate the only relevant statistic is the 22% marriage breakdown which has been a pattern for a number of years. This is also leading to a substantial increase in children born out of wedlock, which percentage has increased from 10% to 27.45% in ten years. 

He argued: “The country cannot leave these problems unaddressed. Separated couples are forming new relationships, having children  within these relationships and there is a general acceptance that this is inevitable, even though it is not in line with catholic teaching.  If the country leaves this situation unaddressed we would be saying that we prefer rampant cohabitation rather than these couples regularising their relationships.”

With regards to the referendum question, Mugliett said the question for a responsible divorce as inspired by the proposed divorce bill, indicates that there is a certain sensibility that our society is aware of its Catholic roots, but also of the new realities.

He said there were indications that there could be a majority which could be inclined to favour legislation making it possible within certain conditions for couples where one member was previously married, to marry again.

Mugliett added he would rather be guided by public opinion on this (the conditions stating when a divorce could be obtained) rather than not be guided at all. "Giving the public the chance to express itself on the conditions of a future divorce bill will in itself be a safeguard against the eventual relaxation of the divorce bill. If someone in the future would want to change the divorce bill, making it more relaxed, he would be morally obliged to go to a referendum, since it would have been the public in the first instance which would have indicated the parameters of the original bill."

Mugliett closed his speech by quoting Professor Wain who had written in an article that the people’s representatives are called to represent all society, including minorites and individuals and that the same representatives are called to defend the common good, even the voices which find it difficult to make themselves heard.

To these principles Mugliett added that he believed that a Catholic Politician is called to be sensitive and take concrete actions regarding  all the different needs and realities in his society particularly when the alternatives to being insensitive are much worse.

Jesmond Mugliett's speech in Maltese - unabridged version

Mr Speaker

Huwa storiku id-dibattitu li ghandna illum.  Storiku ghal diversi ragunijiet:

• Is-suggett –Legislazzjoni dwar id-Divorzju -  kunsidrat bhala taboo politiku ghal hafna snin
• Il-mod kif tressqet u evolviet il-mozzjoni li bdiet id-diskussjoni kollha
• Id-diskussjoni u il-kontorversja li qajmet fil-pajjiz
• Il-fatt li ser ikollna  Referendum dwar jekk ghandux ikun hawn divorzju, liema referendum nafu li ghandu jsehh fit 28 ta’ Mejju.

Ghidt li s-sugget hu taboo polititku. Zgur li sa ftit xhur ilu hekk kien, u nahseb li hawn diversi li kienu jippreferu li dan is-sugget ma kienx dibattut.  Ghax jikkontrasta l-fidi jew kultura kattolika taghna ma rejalta’  ohra. Ghax quddiemna ghandna istituzzjonijiet u nies li jemmnu bis-shih fit-taghlim tal-Knisja Kattolika u li ghalihom dik hi l-unika triq ghal pajjiz u hawn min jemmen bis-shih li minkejja l-fidi Kattolika, il-Knisja u l-Istat huma zewg Istituzzjonijiet separati u li l-harsien tad-drittijiet ta’ minoranzi (u hawn irridu niddefinixxu minoranza) huma l-akbar prova tad-demokrazija fil-pajjiz. Dibattitu li ipoggi l-istess membri ta’ din il-kamra quddiem dilemmi ghax kull wiehed u wahda minna ghandna kostitwenzi imhallta.

Il-mod kif tressqet  il-mozzjoni sabiex ikun introdott id-divorzju hawn Malta ma kienx konvenzjonali.  Kien hawn min hadha bil-kbira u iddeskriva  lil habib tieghi Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando li ressaq private members bill  slejali.   Hawn min ghamel l-argument tal-mandat politiku li qal li ma jezistiex ghal ligi daqshekk importanti.

Jien nara fil-private members ta’ JPO li imbaghad storikament regghet kienet ipprezentata ma deputat minn naha l-ohra l-Onor Evarist Bartolo, rejazzjoni naturali ghal certu kultura politika li ma kellha l-ebda urgenza li tpoggi dan is-suggett fin-nofs tal-arena politika. Kieku JPO ma hax l-inizjattiva wahdu, bhala partit nazzjonalista konna nibqghu nghatu l-impressjoni li m’ahniex kontra id-divorzju, ghax qabel ma ressaq il-private members motion il-PN qatt ma ha pozizzjoni fuq id-divorzju.  Konna imbaghad nhallu xi kandidat jesprimi opinjoni  personali tieghu, nghatu is-semblanza li il-partiti huwa tolleranti u nibqghu inzommu s-suggett barra mill-agenda politika.  

Intqal ukoll hafna dwar li din il-legislatura m’ghandiex mandat tghaddi ligi dwar id-divorzju.  Issa kellna granet ilu l-istqarrija tal-Knisja li dan id-dibattitu fuq is-suggett tad-Divorzju huwa grazzja ghax igeghlna nirrejalizzaw x’inhi  il-percezzjonijiet u s-sitwazzjoni taz-zwieg f’Malta. 

Dan igeghlni insaqsi l-mistoqsija: X’inhu gustifikat li jkun sugget tad-dibattitu politiku fil-pajjiz?

Dak li jkun f’programm elettorali (li jitfassal b’ghanijiet ta’ rebh ta’ elezzjoni) darba kull hames snin, jew dak li jkun sar relevanti u pertinenti fic-cirkostanzi maz-zmenijiet.  

L-istqarrija tal-isqfijiet turi li d-dibattitu dwar l-istat tal-familji Maltin illum huwa relevanti hafna.

 Din il-mozzjoni  hija opportunita’ unika ghall-pajjiz li jiddibatti dan il-sugget lil hinn minn konsiderazzjoni ta’ elezzjoni.  Dan hu essenzjali ferm f’pajjiz tant polarizzat u fejn l-influenza tal-knisja ghadha tant tinhass.  Pozittiv ukoll kien il-fatt li it-tieni mozzjoni tressqet minn zewg deputati gejjin miz-zewg nahiet tal-kamra.   Ghalfejn ghandom il-ligijiet diskussi u approvati minn dan il-Parlament ikunu monopolju ta’ xi Partit, meta jista jkun li f’materja jkun hemm maggoranza bejn membri taz-zewg nahat u mhux f’partit wiehed partikolari?  Nemmen li dan ikun ukoll rapprezentattiv tas-socjeta’ taghna u nahseb li s-socjeta’ taghna trid aktar minn dan.

 Il-kwestjoni principali tibqa jekk pajjizna ghandux ikun hawn id-divorzju jew le.

Hawn min ihoss li bhala politiku jista jhares lejn dak li jemmen fih hu u l-kriterja ta’ x’japprova fil-Parlament jibbazjom fuq hekk, jillegisla skond il-fidi religjuza tieghu biss.

Jien nemmen li bhala politiku kattoliku, il-valuri kattolici l-ewwelnett irrid nurihom

• fil-valuri li nhaddan,
• fil-mod kif nitratta mal-avversarji tieghi,
• fil-mod kif nitratta lin-nies li jigu quddiemi u mhux nghinhom ghax jistghu ituni xi vot, imma ghax sensittiv ghal htegijiet taghhom
• fil-mod kif inzomm u nghozz il-verita’ f’dak kollu li naghmel, nghid jew nikkomunika.
• Fl-ezempju li nghati b’ghemili
• Filli ma nhallix l-ghanijiet ahharija jiggustifikaw metodi li mhumiex ta’ rispett ghal verita jew ghal haddiehor

Ghalija inhoss li dawn huma bil-ferm aktar importanti milli xi krucjata kontra id-divorzju. Nahseb li fiz-zwegijiet, il-maggoranza kbira tal-Maltin ghadhom ifittxu zwieg dejjiemi mibni fuq l-imhabba u r-rispett fir-rizq tajjeb u hazin.  Li ghal numru ta’ koppji  mhux zghir  dan mhux qed isehh ma nistghux nitraskurawh ghal hafna ragunijiet.

L-ewwel net ghax in-numru mhux zghir.  Bhalissa ir-rata ta’ zwegijiet li mhux qed jirnexxu hija ta 22 fil mija taz-zwegijiet li jsiru fis-sena.  Din hija l-istatistika relevanti.  Min jghid mod iehor  u jghid li irridu naraw il-percentwali maz-zwegijiet kollha, qieghed jaghmel il-ginnastika bl-istatiska.  Il-pattern ilu hemm ghal diversi snin u sfortutament ma jidhirx li ser jonqos fil-futur.  In-numru ta’ zwegijiet li ma jirnexxux bhala  percentagg taz-zwegijiet li jsiru f’sena hija benchmark li jintuza fl-ewropa kollha u r-rata ta’  separazzjonijiet u divorzji f’Malta hija ghola minn numru ta’ divorzji li jsiru fl-Italja, fl-Irlanda u fil-Grecja.

Fid-dibattiti li ippartecipajt fihom fi hdan il-Partit kien hemm kollegi li argumentaw li l-kwestjoni tad-divorzju, aktar minn wahda ta’ principju, hija kwestjoni ta’ zmien.  Meta ser nikkunsidraw li s-sitwazzjoni iddeterjorat tali li ma jkollniex triq ohra li  naccettaw il-ligi tad-divorzju.  Li qrobna ir-rata ta’ divorzji fl’Italja mhux benchmark relevanti?

Fin-nuqqas ta’ ligi li tippermetti d-divorzju qed naraw koppji li isseparaw jergghu jiffurmaw relazzjonijiet godda.  Xi uhud minnhom anke jaspiraw li jkollhom it-tfal.  Kollha jaspiraw li kif jghid il-Malti ‘isibu xorti’. Il-kultura x’jigri wara li koppja tissepara  f’pajjizna  m’ghadiex kattolika.  Hawn accettazzjoni  wiesgha ghal din il-kultura bhala sitwazzjoni inevitabli. Jekk nibqghu ma naghmlu xejn sabiex nirriflettu dan fil-legislazzjoni taghna inkunu qed nghidu li nippreferu li jkun hawn koabitazzjoni rampanti milli relazzjonijiet regolati.

Is-soluzzjoni tal-koabitazzjoni f’vaku mhiex soluzzjoni u jien mhiex lest li nivvota favur ligi tal-koabitazzjoni, jekk imbaghad koppji ma jkollhomx alternattiva kif relazzjoni gdida jistghu jirregolarizzawa bi zwieg civili.  Ligi tal-koabitazzjoni waheda kull ma tkun qed taghmel hija li tistituzzjonalizza  il-koabitazzjoni. B’hekk inkunu qed nghatu il-messagg li nipreferru li koppji jghixu flimkien minghajr ma jikkonsolidaw din ir-relazzjoni f’commitment rifless f’kuntratt. Fil-fehma tieghi dan ikun l-akbar messagg kontra z-zwieg.

Inhoss li rata ta’ 22 fil mija ta separazzjonijiet jew divorzju hija serja hafna u timmerita li il-pajjiz jindirizzha.  Hawn min jghid li d-divorzju mhux dritt civili.  Imma hawn ghandna anomalija ohra.  Il-pajjiz ilu ghal xi 25 sena jirrikonoxxi dan id-dritt civili f’certu cirkustanzi bhal fil-kaz ta’ divorzji mghotija f’pajjizi ohra jew divorzji permessi f’certu religjonijiet mhux kattolici.  Dan minnu innifsu jgeghlna insaqsu, jekk id-divorzju huwa dritt civili f’certu cirkostanzi, ghalfejn ma jistax ikun dritt civili normali?

Id-dibattitu li ghandna quddiemna huwa specifiku, dwar x’tip ta’ mistoqsija ghandna jkollna fir-Referendum.   Ghandna l-mistoqsija li tirrifletti l-abbozz ta’ ligi mressaq mill-Onor Pullicino Orlando u Evarist Bartolo, u ghandna l-mistoqsija semplici, jekk wiehed jaqbilx  li f’pajjizna ikun hawn divorzju jew le.

L-Opinjoni tieghi hija li jien nippreferi li l-mistoqsija tindika x’tip ta’ divorzju naraw li jkun gustifikat fic-cirkustanzi.  Il-mistoqsija ispirata minn legislazzjoni ta’ divorzju responsabbli tirrifletti is-sensibilita’ li hawn li ghalkemm ahna ghandna gheruq kattolici, tezisti rejalta ta’ relazzjonijiet ohra, li b’certu kontrolli u parametri, trid li tirregolarizza dawn ir-relazzjonijiet.

Din l-opinjoni pubblika dwar x’tip ta’ divorzju jista jkun accettabli ghas-socjeta taghna inhoss li hija gwida importanti u mehtiega jekk qatt naslu sabiex nibdew niddibattu dan l-abbozz fil-Parlament.  Jien nippreferi li nkun gwidat mill-opinjoni pubblika, anke dwar certu parametri li ghandha jkollh il-ligi, milli ma nkunx.

Inhoss li dan, jekk qatt tghaddi il-ligi tad-divorzju minn dan il-Parlament, ikun ukoll salvagwardja  sabiex jekk qatt ikun hemm min irid jaghmel il-ligi tad-divorzju anqas iebsa, ikollu jerga jmur quddiem il-poplu sabiex ibiddel il-ligi.  Ghax kien il-poplu, fl-ewwel  istanza li wera x’tip ta’ ligi irid.

Mhuwiex facli tiddibatti dan is-sugget.  Ghax vera li l-familji huma l-ghezez ghal kull wiehed u wahda minnha.  Ghandna verament nghinu lil familji ghax ilna naghmlu diskorsi li ghandna nghinuhom ghal ma nafx kemm snin, imma barra mill-kliem ma tantx ghandna x’nuru.

Wahda mill-aktar kitbiet fuq id-divorzju li kien hawn fil-gazzetti kienet mill-Professur Kenneth Wain, persuna li darba ghax kien ha pozizzjoni favur l-Unjoni Ewropeja, Gvern Nazzjonalista uzah bhala paladin filwaqt li l-Partit Laburista attakah.  Zgur li hadd ma jista jattakka lil-Professur Wain li ghandu xi pozizzjoni minhabba xi partit jew ghax qrib jew mhux ta’ xi Knisja.

Meta qrajt lill-Professur Wain, hassejt li jikkristalizza hafna minn dak li nemmen fih jien. 

Li l-obligazzjoni taghna bhala raprezentanti  hija favur il-poplu kollu, inkluz minoranzi u individwali.

Li ir-rapprezentanti tal-poplu huma mghajta sabiex jiddefendu  il-gid tas-socjeta’ inkluz dawk li il-vuci taghhom difficli sabiex tinstema.

Li politiku kattoliku ikun sensittiv ghal rejaltajiet ohra fis-socjeta’ tieghu, ghax l-alternattiva hija ahgar mhux qed ikun selettiv fir-religjon tieghu.

Il-poplu Malti ser ikollu cans jghati l-pozizzjoni tieghu dwar dan is-suggett.   L-istess poplu Malti donnu kif qed juru s-surveys, ghandu pozizzjonijiet dwar il-parametri ta’ x’tista tkun  legislazzjoni f’din il-materja.  Issa li hawn konsensus ghar-referendum, ejjew naraw li

I l-pozizzjoni u l-opinjoni dettaljata tal-poplu ghandha tinkiseb u tintuza bhala il-gwida assoluta ghal dan il-Parlament.