No clear answer from Tonio Fenech on voting intentions

Tonio Fenech – who has more than once declared himself against divorce – refrained from stating how he will vote in parliament, or whether he will simply abstain.

Questioned about whether he will vote according to his conscience in parliament, as he once stated, Fenech replied: “My conscience comes first and foremost … even the decision as to whether I’m to stay in politics. This is me, as 'Tonio Fenech', and this is something which I have to live with.”

"The Maltese have voted in favour of divorce. It is parliament’s duty to see that the law requested by the people is passed and I will not be there to pose as an obstacle.”

Fenech said that the result of the referendum was a democratic decision taken by the people and “I am duty bound to see that this democracy passes through.”

Avoiding answering the direct question of how is going to vote, Fenech simply replied: “In the country there were those who voted yes, those who voted against, and those who did not vote – the Parliament should be left in the same liberty.”

He then reiterated what almost all Nationalist MPs who won’t declare how they will vote in parliament said: “Ultimately, the most important thing is for the law to pass.”