Divorce is not a value. Separation is not a value. Both are means to an end and the ends are the family and a well ordered society. The values the Nationalist Party is actively discussing in its highest structures are the well-being of the Maltese family and Maltese society and whether or not divorce helps in achieving those values. This distinction is not nitpicking, it is not a nicety, it is absolutely crucial to come to a conclusion whether we in the PN should be pro or anti divorce.

There are proponents of divorce who pitch their argument on the basis of individual rights – it is my right to re-marry once, twice, three times, as many times as I wish. Basically egoistical, the argument puts the individual before society and before the family and usually results in a “quickie divorce” regime that, admittedly, is not being proposed by the pro-divorce lobby in Malta. That lobby is arguing that divorce is the means to achieve the value of the family because it is the only means whereby separated persons (and inevitably there will always be separations) can form another family. The anti-divorce lobby argues otherwise but at least there seems to be unity in the underlying value being promoted – the family.

The other intrinsic value that us Nationalists need to consider is Maltese society and we need to ask ourselves one simple question: Has Maltese society so broken down we need divorce to regulate the family relationship? Do only a minority of Maltese care about the traditional family concept and its consequences? Have marriage breakdowns surpassed marriages? Has marriage become so irrelevant the Maltese prefer cohabitation to marriage? Are children being born outside the traditional marriage because that concept has become irrelevant? These are the questions we need to answer before we decide whether we are pro or anti divorce and in the PN it is this discussion that is going on.

Two other points.

Firstly, we are talking about Malta and the way we want to structure our society. Others can do what they like; we do what we think best for us. We analyse according to our reality not according to what happens in some other country even though statistics amply show the disaster in the latter. We examine our statistics and those amply show we are not in such a mess as some would like us to be.

Secondly, the discussion in the party is not based on faith in some Catholic or Christian Democratic credo. We are and must remain a lay party although I, for one, am proud to be a politician inspired by the values and social teachings of the Catholic Church and it is ridiculous to ask me to be a Catholic and vote for divorce. Others may think otherwise and I have no problem with it because our party, on this issue, is big enough to encompass one and all.

That is why this is not a discussion about party dogma but a discussion about the values that we – as Nationalists – want to represent. This is not Armageddon and who tries to portray it that way does so for personal rather than party reasons. The party will be in good shape – no matter what decision is taken – as long as everyone agrees the democratic process requires a vote and that if you are a party boy you need to respect that vote.

I – labelled a conservative since I am anti-divorce (which goes to show the great democratic credentials of the pro-divorce lobby!) – will respect whatever decision the party takes. If that decision goes against what I conscientiously believe in, I would resign from Parliament since I would not be able in all conscience to back a pro-divorce party and I cannot ever expect my view prevails over the majority view.

Dr Gatt is Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Communications.