PN refuses to respond to accusations of ‘contradictory’ cohabitation stand
Paul Borg Olivier: PN has always been capable of embracing members with diverse ideas.
The Nationalist Party has refused to respond to claims it is heading towards a contradictory stand by favouring cohabitation legislation while its top officials speak out against divorce.
The PN’s executive arm is widely expected to endorse an anti-divorce resolution during a meeting on Saturday and yet the government is pursuing a cohabitation law, described by several commentators as more contentious.
The PN had included a proposal for cohabitation in the 1998 manifesto but the measure was later dropped, even if the government is expected to present a cohabitation Bill in the coming months.
Questions sent to PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier about the party’s seemingly contradictory stand, and whether the resolution would make reference to cohabitation, remained unanswered.
Instead, Dr Borg Olivier said the five sessions of the executive to discuss divorce provided a very open and mature process of dialogue, with all members free to speak out on the matter.
The discussion was prompted by backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando’s surprise Private Member’s Bill on divorce last year, which is likely to lead to a referendum on the issue close to summer.
“The PN responsibly believes that it should take a stand on an issue like divorce, which has a direct impact on the value of the family and society as a whole. We also believe that the party has always been capable of embracing members with diverse ideas,” Dr Borg Olivier told The Sunday Times.
He said the PN’s stand contrasted with the “irresponsible and superficial” view taken by the Labour Party that appears to have chosen not to debate the divorce issue at all.
Dr Borg Olivier denied claims that PN heavyweight minister Austin Gatt was exerting pressure on the executive by saying he would resign if the party adopted a pro-divorce stand.
“It is untrue and unjust to state that any member put, or is putting any pressure on the members of the executive committee to take a stand in favour or against divorce, or that the members don’t decide according to what they believe is right.”
Dr Borg Olivier also failed to respond when asked whether the party feared it could alienate a core of party faithful who had pro-divorce views.
When contacted, Dr Pullicino Orlando would not be drawn into commenting whether the PN’s anti-divorce stand was a foregone conclusion and declined to say whether he would request the insertion of a clause on cohabitation in Saturday’s resolution.
However, he pointed out that while it was correct to state that the government did not have a mandate for divorce, neither did it have a mandate to introduce cohabitation legislation.
Asked whether he would support a cohabitation law once presented in Parliament, Dr Pullicino Orlando replied: “Yes I will. I will bow to the majority… I would only be placed in an awkward situation if we’re not given a free vote on divorce – and I’ve been assured we will be.
“My stand is pro-divorce simply because it gives couples whose first marriage has irrevocably broken down the chance to remarry. What’s wrong with that?”
Writing in The Sunday Times today (page 14), former Nationalist minister Michael Falzon says the members of the PN executive should not underestimate the huge responsibility they hold.
Mr Falzon says it is essential that the PN takes note of the many liberals that have voted for the Nationalists in every election and who could abandon the party because of its stand on divorce.
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M.Camilleri
Feb 6th 2011, 21:49
Sewwa mela bid-divorzju jikber ir-riskju li jitkissru z- zwegijiet iu bil-ko-obitazzjoni ??? In-nies jibdew jaghmlu bhan-nahal.....itiru minn fjura ghall-ohra, isoffu l-ghasel u wara jitilqu. Dik serjeta!!!! Warrab rasek.
J.Scicluna
Feb 6th 2011, 17:41
"A picture tells a 1000 words"!
PBO is showing the figure "ZERO" with his fingers......ZERO tolerance for whoever fails to tow the party line i.e. doing as Austin says! :-)
MARGARET RICHARDS
Feb 6th 2011, 17:38
When PN & PL stop playing and fooling around, and realize that this is not a political power score but a human issue, when both PN & PL stop playing 2nd fiddle to the whited sepulchres at the Curia, perhaps we'll start moving forward. As it is - it's maltataliban.middleages.com!!!
joseph brincat
Feb 6th 2011, 15:44
I remember once there was a STIGMA (today no longer EXISTS),on every child that was born outside of marriage his surname used to be SPITERI .Now there is another type of STIGMA on those who COHABITATE so let them start a new life like you and me by letting them REMARRY,for the sake of their children as well.
j muscat
Feb 6th 2011, 15:15
If our politicians do not have the guts to do their duty and revise outdated laws etc. in parliament, they should be loyal to, and respect the individual opinion of their party members
and this, without trying to influence them in any way what so ever. If you shrug from responsibility of a decission , whatever decission then taken will still be yours, messers ministers , shadow ministers and MP' s. This is a serious and an important decission.
Our parliament is showing that they can face important decissions but not the serious ones.
I invite all concerned to chew at these words.
Wenzu Vella
Feb 6th 2011, 12:52
"Cohabitation"==bil Malti==ingarzat==ahjar divozju mela hux==aktar onest==
Fabian Brincat Snr.
Feb 6th 2011, 12:30
Ah Mr. Galea !! Why not the Maltese indeed !
I very clearly, and in pure Maltese answered that question a few years ago and as I am told Xarabank started the programme with a fraction of the interview I gave them, but alas the Maltese have no guts– end of story !!
To put it more mildly, as the English conned us: MALTESE GEMGEM !!
victor pulis
Feb 6th 2011, 12:14
' Dr Borg Olivier said the five sessions of the executive to discuss divorce provided a very open and mature process of dialogue, with all members free to speak out on the matter.'
An answer which has nothing to do with the question! Spoken like a true politician.
He said the PN’s stand contrasted with the “irresponsible and superficial” view taken by the Labour Party that appears to have chosen not to debate the divorce issue at all.
PN supportersdon't care what the PL thinks. On the other hand they are being very attentive to what their party says.
Dr Borg Olivier denied claims that PN heavyweight minister Austin Gatt was exerting pressure on the executive by saying he would resign if the party adopted a pro-divorce stand.
Most PN supporters beg to differ. They have every right to think that Dr. Gatt is exerting pressure.
Christopher Xuereb
Feb 6th 2011, 11:32
Same here. The divorce issue will heavily influence my voting choice come the next general election. If the PN adopts as reactionary a position as the Austin Gatts and Borg Oliviers of the party would have it do, it can rest assured that it will not be getting my vote (and not any subsequent preference ones either)
abuhagiar
Feb 6th 2011, 11:46
Christopher are you following going back to the 70's declarations by our politicians as being the best years ever ?
Joe Busuttil
Feb 6th 2011, 12:49
@abuhagiar. What is it exactly that you wanted to say? Didn't quite get the point . Anyway, Joseph Muscat is one real lucky guy. With people like the ones running the PN who needs to run an election campaign?
Christopher Xuereb
Feb 6th 2011, 13:03
abuhagiar, I'm not sure which politicians are referring to the 70s as halcyon days. I believe it was in 1973 that homosexuality was decriminalised followed by adultery two years later (which means that prior to this time Malta's resemblance to present day theocratic Iran was even greater). I can understand why some politicians might recall the period with some fondness although they would have to be a little blinkered to be doing so. The 70s was a time when we appeared to be heading from theocracy to autocracy. A time when the state retreated from your bedroom so that it could more effectively enslave you to its peculiar vision of socialism.
Andrew Farrugia
Feb 6th 2011, 13:04
Is there something illegal, possibly criminal, about using one's vote as a bargaining chip, or to blackmail politicians? And who is to say how one has voted in the secrecy of the ballot box?
Pat Hobson
Feb 6th 2011, 14:03
The PN has demonised the 70's for a long time now. But what is really being done is make the people realise that the 70's were the boon of the middle class workers and especially the lower classes. The lower class was given the minimum wage where it never existed, gave a place to live, free education, free health schemes, pensions, etc. Gave the middle and lower class hopes for a better future with national enterprises like AirMalta, EneMalta, BOV, MidMed Bank, etc. Gave the Maltese people a dream which later became reality, no more military bases but a culture base based on tourism and industrialisation. Ok there were mistakes in the late 70's, yes I agree, but not the whole 70's. The 70's were the blackest for the PN because with the Church's crutch the PN had a major defeat in 1976. But the PN's lust for power knew no limits,and after the change in leadership, a whole slew of industrial actions from various PN sympathising unions started taking place. I remember well the late 70's. There wasn't a week without a Pn activity.
j muscat
Feb 6th 2011, 15:34
Dear Mr Buhagiar, as far as the divorce issue is concerned, you are still in the seventies , may be in the fifties.......and much more before that, time to re think !!! cobwebs ,cobwebs!!
anthony bugeja
Feb 6th 2011, 11:32
Hawwadni ha nifhem. PN is behaving like the MLP did on the EU issue.
C Galea
Feb 6th 2011, 12:13
well said
malcolm seychell
Feb 6th 2011, 19:41
All true. I think Sant moved to the PN :)
d. borg
Feb 6th 2011, 11:10
Any party or institution who does not adjourn its policies and move with the signs of the times is doomed to a slow death. The PN has not adjourned on this issue, and has not listened to the hundreds of unhappy couples whose marriage has ended and who wish to start a new life with a new partner. Come next election the party will reap what it has sown and liberals like myself will definitely not vote for PN.
jbusuttil
Feb 6th 2011, 11:27
The divorce issue makes you a liberal hallina Sur Borg, kemm ghadek lura biex issejah ruhek liberali.
C Galea
Feb 6th 2011, 10:49
Perhaps the maltese could learn from the egyptians????????? Perhaps the religious approach may have to take a battering for once?????????? perhaps the fear of votes at the next election could become accountable at last????????? Freedom of choice is what a lot of people are demanding out there, so why not the maltese?????????
Wilfred Camilleri
Feb 6th 2011, 15:17
How can you compare what's happening in Egypt to Malta? Your comments are bizarre if not childish.
C Galea
Feb 6th 2011, 17:27
Re. Wilfred Camilleri : do read between the lines please and perhaps you too could rise to the occasion ???????????????