Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi this afternoon defended a PN resolution which says that a referendum would be held if parliament approves a Bill for the introduction of divorce.

Speaking at a press conference, he said the parliamentary procedures dictated that no referendum could be called before a decision was actually taken by the House.

He pointed out, however, that while this meant that no referendum would be held if the Bill was defeated in the House, there could also be a situation where divorce would be introduced without the referendum actually being held.

Dr Gonzi said he hoped that MPs would vote in favour of the Bill at first reading stage, allowing the debate to be held.

During the second reading stage - when the principle of the bill is discussed - Dr Gonzi said he hoped MPs would vote according to their conscience.

If the Bill was approved at that stage and moved to the committee stage, the government would introduce a clause saying that if approved, the new law would only come into force if it was approved by referendum.

However, Dr Gonzi said, it could be that the House would reject this clause and move on to the approval of the third reading, meaning that divorce would become a reality without the referendum.

Dr Gonzi and deputy leader Tonio Borg reiterated their opposition to the introduction of divorce and said they would vote against it on second reading.

The prime minister insisted that divorce was not in the common good.

Replying to questions about the calls for divorce, Dr Gonzi pointed out that the Bill as presented by Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Evarist Bartolo did not actually call for a referendum and it was the government that was saying that the people should vote at a referendum if the House approved the Bill.

If the Bill was not approved by the House, there could not be a referendum.

Earlier today the PN administrative committee approved a resolution setting out the PN position on divorce.

The resolution declared that the party is against the introduction of divorce. It said however that the pending Bill on the introduction of divorce should be debated as soon as possible in Parliament, and MPs would have a free vote. Should the Bill be approved, it would not come into force until a referendum was held.(see separate story)