David Friggieri questions whether it’s all about 'mathematical' democracy

Friggieri complained that most Nationalist MPs are being evasive when asked by journalists how they are going to vote in Parliament on the divorce bill: “At least one can agree that some of them look uncomfortable when confronted by journalists on the issue.”

Speaking today on Radju Malta Għandi x’Ngħid, Friggieri claimed that “a constitutional crisis has emerged. Against all odds, the divorce referendum passed with a 53% majority. But now, a number of MPs are feeling uneasy with the result and are evading questions, using the generic excuse of ‘voting according to the conscience.”

According to Friggieri, people like the Prime Minister, Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and Family Minister Dolores Cristina are experiencing “tension” between two values which for them are “absolute” – the value of belief and the value of respecting democracy and the will of the people.

“Which one is going to win?” Friggieri said. “It is clear that in this case, the value of the belief is going to win over the other one. I am not saying that the law will not pass. But the fact that there is such tension creates a problem in a democratic country such as ours, which is supposedly secular.”

But the whip of the Nationalist Party David Agius reiterated that the will of the people will be carried out in Parliament: “The Prime Minister himself declared that he will respect the will of the people.”

“But who does ‘we’ include?” Friggieri cut in, to which Agius answered “the 69 members of parliament.”

“How? With a mathematical agreement?” Friggieri asked.

“No ... but because the majority in Parliament is in favour of the bill. Malta is a democratic country and the credentials of the PN reflect this democracy,” Agius said. He added that laws also passed when they were faced by 22 votes against.

Pressing Agius on the conscience issue, Friggieri asked what would happen if the majority of the PN were against the law because of their conscience.

“Nothing would happen,” was the blunt reply of Agius, while accusing Friggieri of creating a “fairytale”. “The Prime Minister gave his assurance that the law will pass. If we see that the law is in danger of not passing, we would either walk out of Parliament or vote in favour.”

Labour MP Gino Cauchi, who was also present during the programme, recalled what Labour leader Joseph Muscat had said following the referendum result: “Muscat made it clear that the law would pass thanks to the Labour MPs – and he knew what he was saying.”

Taking a dig at Agius’ reply “of walking out”, Cauchi added that the Labour MPs “would not be faced by this problem. We are all going to stay in and vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

Friggieri then pointedly asked Agius if he thought that journalists were losing their time asking MPs how they were going to vote in Parliament.

“Yes they are because we already made a clear declaration that the law will pass,” Agius replied. “There are 33 members of the Opposition who declared their ‘yes’ and there are four MPs from the government’s side who will also vote yes.”

During a phone-in made by Xarabank’s presenter, Peppi Azzopardi said he respected “those who have a problem with their conscience. If the people spoke and their will shall be respected, what problem exists for people like Marie Louise Coleiro Preca to vote according to their conscience?”

“If she has a problem with her conscience, why force her to vote yes? Why should Austin Gatt who has penned more articles on divorce than all those in favour combined together, cannot have the right to vote no?”

But suddenly, Azzopardi went from talking about divorce to asking the guests how they would vote in Parliament if a referendum in favour of same sex marriages and abortion would pass in Malta.

Cauchi replied that personally, he would vote against abortion: “I can also add that Joseph Muscat is also against abortion.” He added, “I would go against my conscience and respect the will of the people.”

He added that one cannot tell people to voice their opinion, but then ignore it.

Friggieri answered that AD has always been in favour of same sex marriages and would definitely vote yes. “However, AD has a clear position that it is against legalising abortion.”

On his part, Agius replied that the “PN has not yet taken a position on same sex marriages.”