Pro-lifers demand written guarantee from party leaders on abortion

Pro-life groups are demanding that Malta’s major party leaders sign a written guarantee that they would instruct party whips to have MPs vote against the legalisation of abortion. 

Ivan Grech Mintoff, the self-styled leader of the conservative Alleanza Bidla party, announced a demonstration against abortion on Sunday 7 April, organised by a Facebook platform which has over 20,000 members. 

Grech Mintoff said the Facebook group ‘Abortion in Malta? Not in my name!' was formed three weeks ago, and wants party leaders to promise, before the MEP elections, that they would instruct their whip to ensure no MPs voted in favour of an abortion Bill should it ever be brought forward in Parliament. 

He underlined that the Facebook group was completely non-partisan, and it welcomed members and leaders of any political party to join it and to attend the demonstration.

“The absolute majority of the Maltese people are against the legalisation of abortion in Malta. There is however, a growing uncertainty in the public domain if the will of this majority, will carry on being respected,” Grech Mintoff said.

“We created this group in order to ensure that all political parties representing us all are forced to listen to the unborn; the very weakest among us, most in need of a clear voice. We demand guarantees that abortion will not be introduced in Malta and that we will not accept any EU directive or regulation that forces us to do so.” 

Grech Mintoff said ‘members’ of the Facebook group wanted all party leaders to pledge in writing that they would not allow their MPs to approve a law legalising abortion. 

“The members of this group are asking all party leaders to therefore sign a written pledge – a written guarantee – before the MEP elections, that should abortion (in any form) ever be put in front of Maltese Parliament for discussion, these party leaders would invoke the whip of the party to ensure that no party member will vote in favour of legalising abortion and/or the offering of such any related service. Words are cheap but a leader’s written pledge in this manner is binding and solid,” he said. 

“We appeal to all who sincerely above all else wish to protect human life before birth, regardless of political affiliation or allegiances, to take heed of their parties’ response to taking this pledge and to take it into consideration in the forthcoming elections.” 

The demonstration will be taking place on 7 April at 2pm in front of Parliament in Valletta.

Alleanza Bidla is a member of the European Christian Political Movement.