Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this evening said he was in favour of leaving the decision on the introduction of divorce to the people through a “specific referendum” on the subject.

Speaking during Bondi+ on TVM, Dr Gonzi that the people’s decision will have to be taken after parliament would have discussed the issue and after all Members of Parliament would have been given the opportunity to freely express their opinion on the matter.

Dr Gonzi also said it would be “wrong” to link the divorce issue to a general election when people are expected to choose between one party and another.

After a meeting with Dr Gonzi last week, Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who has presented a Private Members’ Bill on divorce, said a decision had been taken for a divorce referendum to be held next year, following a parliamentary debate.

Subsequently, Dr Gonzi toned it down, warning against speaking about referenda at this stage, because of the parliamentary process that had to take place, thereby allowing the parliamentary debate to decide on how the issue should be concluded.

However, in another twist this evening, Dr Gonzi spoke in favour of a referendum and explicitly about taking the issue to the electorate for a vote through a “specific referendum”.

He spoke in favour of a “mature” and “objective” national debate on the issue “without being extremists” because, at the end, a decision had to be taken “in society’s best interest”.