One of the most enduring images of the 2008 election campaign is the 'Saturday Night Fever' spoof poster of Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando. His face, superimposed on the white suit and flares of the dancer Tony Manero with fingers pointing towards a shiny disco-ball, are imprinted on my memory.

That, of course, was a reference to his involvement in the disco at Mistra affair, but unwittingly it also captured the essence of the man - a bit of a drama queen, ever ready to spring into the limelight and to give us a show. Pullicino Orlando's antics over the course of these past two years have earned him the status of resident rebel in Parliament, something which I find faintly amusing and a fitting punishment for the PN for its pre-election shenanigans where the MP was utilised in that showdown with Alfred Sant - the one incident which probably swung the election the PN's way.

After pushing Pullicino Orlando as the wronged victim of Labour mudslinging (when he was anything but) there's an element of poetic justice in observing his transformation into a major PN irritant. I find it very hard to view his post-electoral playing-up as anything other than the reaction of a politician scorned. The fact that the PN has a one-seat majority means the Prime Minister has to tiptoe around him, pretending he's a lovely colour in the rainbow party instead of the cause of many headaches.

Take Pullicino Orlando's presenting a private member's bill to introduce divorce. I don't know if that was motivated by a genuine (and sudden) realisation about the urgency to introduce divorce, or by the desire to rock the boat and to show the Prime Minister who really calls the shots in Parliament. When you consider who stands to gain by the move it is quite clear that it's mainly the MP himself. The two major parties haven't exactly been affected positively.

Here's why. The Labour Party has been shown up yet again as a wishy-washy party which tries to straddle both sides of the fence. Muscat's free vote proposal can be seen as an attempt to placate both the pro- and anti-divorce lobby at the same time, without committing itself to either position. It's either that, or the Labour leader cannot count on the support of his Members of Parliament to follow the party line on the issue. Either way, it smacks of weakness.

In any case, now that Pullicino Orlando has pipped Muscat to the post with the free vote business, the PL will have to adopt another approach on the issue, unless there is a vote on the private member's bill before the next election - something which is highly improbable.

Despite the Nationalist Party's attempts to deflect attention to the opposition, it is evident that it too has been taken aback by Pullicino Orlando's move. The possibility that this had just been a kite-flying exercise engineered by the PN was dispelled when we saw the Prime Minister's tense little smile when he commented on the matter. His attempt to describe Pullicino Orlando's move as an attempt to stimulate discussion was simply too implausible to be believed.

There are many other ways of stimulating discussion besides springing a surprise of that magnitude on your parliamentary colleagues. By acting in this manner Pullicino Orlando has forced the issue to some extent. It is no wonder the Prime Minister keeps harping on about the way he disagrees with the method adopted by his MP. One gets the feeling that Gonzi would describe Pullicino Orlando's actions in much the same way as Tony Blair described that of rebel MPs, namely as being "disloyal, discourteous and wrong".

Has the introduction of the bill helped the pro-divorce lobby? That depends on which forum the decision to introduce divorce is taken.

Should a parliamentary vote be taken at the moment, there is some probability that it would be approved. The most outspoken opponents to the introduction of divorce on the Labour side are Adrian Vassallo, Justyne Caruana and Marlene Pullicino Orlando.

Although the first two have not shown any signs of wanting to depart from their stated position, Marlene Pullicino Orlando seems to be less adamant about her initial opposition. Going on the premise that the PL would vote for divorce, the outcome would depend on how many Nationalist MPs also voted for the motion.

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando may not be a lone gun. As a very astute friend pointed out, another Nationalist MP has been reported as asking for a free vote at the PN parliamentary meeting. The request was turned down. This can only mean that the Prime Minister is aware there are other Nationalist MPs who would vote for divorce and is playing for time by insisting on the need for further discussion.

Gonzi is also insisting that the divorce decision is not his to take because it was not included in the PN's electoral manifesto. Again, this is another ploy to postpone the decision-making. It is not the first time the PN has embarked upon measures which were not even remotely referred to in the manifesto.

The Prime Minister seems to be opting to wash his hands of the matter by submitting the issue of divorce to the people, by having a referendum. This approach is fundamentally flawed as the majority should not be allowed to decide upon the rights of a minority.

As things stand, it is unlikely the majority of voters will vote 'yes' for divorce in a referendum. The pro-divorce movement may be very vocal but it will probably be outnumbered by the anti-divorce lobby and those not affected by divorce, and will therefore vote on party lines.

The upshot of all this is that we will have an even more protracted debate about divorce, another polarising referendum battle royale between the pro- and anti-divorce movements and Pullicino Orlando gyrating in the full glare of public attention. It makes you wish that disco ball had come undone.

cl.bon@nextgen.net.mt

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