Gonzi must set example on divorce vote - Muscat

Labour leader Joseph Muscat has called on the Prime Minister not to abstain from voting on the divorce bill, and set the example as a prime minister of all the country “and not as Lawrence Gonzi, leader of a confessional party.”

Yesterday, Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando also said on Dissett that he expected MPs to support the bill as an expression of the popular vote in the referendum. “Before the result we [Moviment Iva] committed ourselves to withdraw the bill if the people did not vote yes in the referendum.”

“A dilemma, that should have never been there in the first place, was created when the PN took a position against divorce. Since this stand has been taken, the PN as a Christian-democrat party should now ask MPs to reflect the clear and free expression of the people’s will. There’s no clearer mandate than the referendum.”

The divorce bill was moved for its first reading yesterday in parliament, after 53% of the electorate voted in its favour in a referendum held last Saturday. Pullicino Orlando said the PM had not yet declared his stand, but that the party should commit itself to a position saying it will respect the will of the majority.

Pullicino Orlando also said that other so called ‘minority’ issues should not be put to referendum. He mentioned in particular the regulation of in vitro fertilisation, saying that the legislation remains in air when it affects a particular segment of society. He also said he agreed with a cohabitation law that gives rights and obligations to unmarried couples, even same-sex couples.

He said the vote in favour of divorce also represented a call to MPs not to confuse matters of state with religion.

Joseph Muscat said on TX yesterday that Gonzi has no choice but to vote yes and represent the will of the majority. “MPs must vote yes, or else abstain if they have a problem of conscience... the prime minister has cornered his party by taking an official stand against divorce.”

Muscat also said the PN should change its official position on divorce after the people voted in favour of the divorce bill. “Gonzi’s position against divorce today is just like Labour’s position against EU accession or to withdraw Malta’s membership. That is the PN must revisit its position against divorce because it goes against the people’s will.”

Muscat said that Labour MPs were free to be activists against the introduction of divorce and were free to abstain on the vote of the divorce bill. The Labour leader also said his party had left the door open for MPs like Labour MP Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, who said she would be abstaining on the divorce bill vote.