Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said that at a meeting of the PN parliamentary group today he was not asked to withdraw his divorce bill.

In comments after the three-hour meeting, he said he was pleased that the discussion on the subject would continue at a party and national level.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the group had agreed to continue the discussion at a party and national level. He was non-committal on whether the bill would make it to the parliamentary agenda, saying part of the discussion was how the people could have a say in the matter. He also reiterated his personal opposition to divorce and his disagreement with the way Dr Pullicino Orlando had presented his private motion.

Asked if he was speaking about a referendum or an electoral commitment, Dr Gonzi said this too was an issue which had to be discussed.

PULLICINO ORLANDO'S METHODS CRITICISED

Informed sources said that during the meeting, Dr Pullicino Orlando came in for criticism from colleagues for having presented a private member's bill for the introduction of divorce without referring to the party's parliamentary group first.

During the meeting Dr Pullicino Orlando explained that he had given the bill a lot of thought and he felt it was the right thing to do for society.

Most of those present appeared to agree that this was an issue which the country needed to discuss, but they disagreed with the method adopted by Dr Pullicino Orlando, the sources said.

During the meeting some MPs argued that the they, as members of the PN group, did not have the people's mandate to proceed with a divorce debate in Parliament, once it was not promised in the electoral programme.

The possibility of referring the issue to a referendum was also briefly discussed. Some viewed it as a way out of the situation while others argued that subjects such as this, which involved personal decisions, should not be decided by referendum.

The Nationalist MPs refused to give their personal views on divorce as they walked in and out.

A number of MPs from both sides of the House gave their views when they were interviewed yesterday.

See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100707/local/mps-have-divergent-views-on-divorce