Party embarrassment

Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pulicino Orlando has again become an embarrassment to the Prime Minister and to his party.

One recalls the Mistra development bombshell, in which Dr Pullicino Orlando was involved, on the eve of the 2008 general election, which could have cost the PN the election, which it won only with a wafer-thin majorty. Although he was elected from two divisions, perhaps the tears which Dr Pullicino Orlando shed at Mosta just before the polling were not in vain.

Now he unleashes another bolt from the blue with his presentation of a Private Member's Bill for the introduction of divorce, taking the Prime Minister and his fellow MPs completely unawares.

Obviously, Dr Pullicino Orlando has the right, like every MP, to introduce a Private Member's Bill, but not on a matter of such importance. For some he may be a hero, but for me he comes across as undisciplined and unpredictable.

He insists that he has the backing of other MPs; if so, could it be that he is being used by them? I hope Dr Pullicino Orlando realises that divorce is not like any other subject; it is a very delicate matter and, in any case, neither he nor any other MP in the current Parliament has the people's mandate to introduce it.

I am against divorce, because it does not solve the problem of marriage breakdown or cohabitation. Indeed, divorce has long been available in many countries, but then cohabitation has not been reduced; is rampant and on the increase.

I think that the government is doing the right thing by planning to move a law regulating cohabitation, in order to safeguard the weaker partner's rights and the rights of children.

No divorce can mend a broken family. Broken families can mend themselves but not if there are other motives.