Updated - PL on people's side on divorce referendum - Muscat
Muscat had spoken against referendum - PN
Adds PN reaction - Labour leader Joseph Muscat said today that the PL would show in due time that it was on the people's side in calls for the holding of a referendum on divorce.
Speaking on One Radio, he said he had been holding meetings with MPs on the best way of getting the country out of the complicated mess which the prime minister had dragged it into.
Earlier today, a Labour Party spokesman told timesofmalta.com that the Labour Party was discussing a number of options aimed at ensuring that a referendum on divorce was held.
Sources said that the top main options appeared to be a decision for all Labour MPs to vote in favour of the divorce bill - not because they back divorce but to force a referendum - or a parliamentary private member's motion calling for the holding of a referendum.
The Nationalist Party executive committee decided yesterday that the party position should be that a referendum would only be held if the divorce bill is approved by Parliament.
Dr Muscat said this morning that the PN’s position on divorce was incongruous and inconsistent.
He said that one could have a personal position and grant a free vote, but when a party decided on a position, everyone should toe the line.
The prime minister had said, as early as July, that the people should decide on divorce.
He agreed, Dr Muscat said, that some kind of popular mandate was needed.
But now Dr Gonzi was making a colossal U-turn on the referendum, saying he would vote against divorce in parliament, thus acting against the holding of a referendum.
Dr Muscat said he had been holding meetings with Labour MPs to see what could be done. At the proper time the PL would show the people that it was on their side, that it had the proper democratic credentials and that the people could not be ignored.
In his view, Dr Muscat said, Dr Gonzi had decided against holding a referendum and was acting to prevent it from being held.
The people should have a forum to express their views, if not in an election, then in a referendum, Dr Muscat said.
He added that he had consistently said that he was personally in favour of divorce. He had always said that in order to have a mandate for legislation, he would move a motion on divorce after a general election was held.
He had also always said that MPs in Parliament and the people at a referendum should enjoy a free vote to vote according to their conscience.
ELECTORAL PROGRAMME
Earlier, Dr Muscat said the PL would be holding a series of meetings ahead of the drafting of the Labour electoral manifesto would start next week.
He said the party intended to meet constituted bodies and associations representing various sectors, but the party also wanted to hear about the problems and aspirations of the common people and those facing particular problems.
“We need to know what is happening on the ground, not just what the institutional thinking is,” Dr Muscat said.
“We know where we want to go, and the electoral programme will map out the details. That is the role of Karmenu Vella, who has been given ownership of the preparations,” Dr Muscat said.
The Labour leader said personal attacks made over the past few days by people rooted in the past against Karmenu Vella, George Vella and others were disgusting.
“The best weapon against scaremongering is hope, and we will be giving the people home,” Dr Muscat said.
AIR MALTA DISMISSALS
With reference to reports that Air Malta may dismiss as many as half of its workforce, Dr Muscat regretted that this was never mention within the Air Malta restructuring committee, where the PL is represented.
He said that the PL representatives were not being given replies to questions they asked, such as the pay of executives and whether it was true that a consultant was to be paid €250,000.
Dr Muscat said the situation was also worrying at GO plc, where the company, after having invested in a company in Greece, was now dismissing workers. The Prime Minister needed to explain how he had promised workers that their jobs were safe.
This, Dr Muscat pointed out, was a company which had been handed over a prime site worth €23 million by the government.
“My issue is not with GO but with the Prime Minister who made commitments which are not being kept,” Dr Muscat said.
The prime minister was consistently showing that he was not keeping his word with many workers in many sectors, including the dockyard, the buses, Air Malta, Go and many others.
PN REACTION
In a reaction, the Nationalist Partydenied that Dr Gonzi was opposing the holding of a referendum on divorce. And, it said, it was Dr Muscat who was changing his mind. It pointed out that in a 2008 interview to The Sunday Times, Dr Muscat said:
“ calling a referendum would simply amount to passing the buck. It would be an irresponsible failure to postpone the decisions that need to be taken .”
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saviour falzon
Feb 14th 2011, 04:59
This whole thing is a farce! The MPs are laughing with the maltese people!
these people who are aginst the divorce law are too AFRAID OF JUST A LAW?
why are you so afraid? what is the real reason? have you asked yourself, what is the REAL reason that you are so afraid of a divorce law? theer are so mnay other laws , for example if you kill you may go to prison? does that makes you afraid? Maybe not, cause you are not going to kill ? so what's the difference , just don't use that law leave it there IGNORE IT!
maybe you are a religion fanatic? too bad for you -just keep it to yourself- I personally don't care about any religion-
MPs should make the divorce law as it is a fundamental right! "MPs you know that you must make it as a law, but you are trying to see the people's knowledge! I know you will make it sooner or later,and you will make a divorce law to those WHO THEIR MARRIAGE IS BROKEN IRRIVERSIBLE, like been seperated for 4 years especially after one of them have new kids from another relationship with evidence!
Joe Xuereb
Feb 14th 2011, 04:01
Quote: 'The Nationalist Party executive committee decided yesterday that the party position should be that a referendum'. would only be held if the divorce bill is approved by Parliament'.
I thought the Age of Englightened reasoning happened two centuries ago. In Malta, this was like a migratory bird that flew over the island and was never heard of or seen again. Napoleon, come back, all is forgiven!
To the Maltese who choose to have a marriage union sanctioned by their religion, let them. Divorce would not apply to them or affect them in any way.
To the Maltese who opt for a civil marriage and to any other non-Maltese residents living in Malta, of any belief system or none, divorce would be an option open to them. In which case all that is needed is legislation allowing divorce. No referendum, no angst, no sweat.
To anyone contemplating remarrying after divorce: if you think happiness and fulfillment is a succession of different bed-partners, please learn that it is not. Maturity grounded in realism is what is needed. Tough I know. But then, anything worthwhile has to be hard graft. Has been so since forever.
j gatt
Feb 14th 2011, 00:40
@Joe Zammit
Those 7% you refer to Joe, should have freedom of choice wether to divorce or not to divorce, irrespective wether you approve or disapprove.
It is up to the Lord Allmighty to pass final judgement on these poor unfortunate souls, so please do not try to usurp the power granted from the Allmighty, and be the judge and jury. Such arrogance will not go unnoticed.
Are you offering a chalenge, ie taking on our Mighty Lord Joe?
If so, that would be quite a stupid move on your part, a crusade that is guaranteed to fail.
Do not judge lest you will be judged yourself.
S Zammit
Feb 13th 2011, 23:58
How very risky for Joseph Muscat to urge his MPs to vote in favour of divorce so that we get a referendum. Isn't PN looking like it will acccept divorce but will not own up for it with its christian political base?
If divorce actually materialises PL wouldn't be able to capitalise on it as much as PN anyway since it will be hard to prove its collective votes where necessary and if the people vote against divorce, since PL would have put so much wieght in it, it stands to loose by seemingly standing on the wrong side of the vote once again. A better strategy for PL would be to leave everything as is and if it still doesn't go through, they could promise a referendum in PL's term should it be elected.
Alistair Galdes
Feb 13th 2011, 19:58
re:Denis Pace,
May I ask who on earth gave you the right to decide on other people's lives? Do you beleve that you or anyone else have any right to interfere and impose your religious belief on other people's minds?
This is what you and others who believe to be more Christians then the pope himself are doing. Do you want others to decide how you run your life? I am not in favour of devorce, but I am not going impose myself by voting against it either.
If I don't want to devorce, nobody is going to force me to devorce against my will. It is as simple as that.
Why are you afraid. Maybe you are afraid that you might be tempted to use it, if your marrage breaks up. Is this the type of christian you are? With or without it , it makes no differance to me,but to others it makes a lott of differance to their lives.
Alfred Cassar
Feb 13th 2011, 18:58
LP on people's side? Which people, those in favour or those against divorce? This is just opportunism at it's best.
I thought that Joseph Muscat said that he will give his MP's a free vote. Apparentely he is making a U-Turn now and that's why people like M L Coleiro and Carmelo Abela are changing their views noa apparently.
Why are so many MP's on both sides so afraid to vote and take a decision on this issue, is it so career damaging to decide? Did they required a referendum when they introduced the Wardens, VAT or any other tax, and other legislations. They have been elected there to TAKE DECISIONS so take them.
Lina Caruana
Feb 13th 2011, 17:49
Many people fortunately are not lured by the presumptions of those who feel that others cannot see the difference between a trunk and a tree. Poorly argued .Who has fears that marriage failures need divorce? Who fears to live without a partner when a marriage fails? Should we believe your dogma because you think you can improve two thousand years of history with a flip of the pen?
p micallef
Feb 13th 2011, 17:34
On Airmalta the PL is being taken for a ride by government. The PL should never have accepted to sit on the committee because it is being kept in the dark while details of the restructinging plan are bieng leaked to the media obviously by government sources. No one else would risk giving out such delicate information. On the other hand, everytime the PL complains that it is not being kept informed, it is accused that it is trying to gain political mileage. PL - not not fall for such traps. This thing has happened too ofter in the past.
Lina Caruana
Feb 13th 2011, 16:39
The people are those who live marriage relationships everyday and they are not all in favour of divorce because the worst kind of enemy for a marriage are not difficulties but infidelity.That is irresponsibility. How can divorce amend irresponsible people who need to be capricious to be happy
Whatever pro divorce people say they are still labouring in a dark alley of hopelessness burying their reality into their unconscious instead of curing it. For people I wish a happy ending even if after an unfortunate and troubled life not a distressful episode of different and tangled families.
Joe Zammit
Feb 13th 2011, 16:25
The great majority of PN supporters are against divorce.
The great majority of PL supporters are against divorce.
The great majority of Maltese and Gozitans are against divorce.
All these majorities are positive people: in favour of the indissolubility of marriage.
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it's already guaranteed!
eugene sapiano
Feb 13th 2011, 17:20
So all supporters, PL and PN are against divorce; why is the PN so afraid of a referendum?
I am not a separated person but have been married for the last 26 years; but what about the others who have not been so lucky?
C. Farrugia
Feb 13th 2011, 16:13
Who told Dr Muscat that the people want a referendum? Do we need a referendum to find out if the people want a referendum? What a waste of people's money.......... What is sure is that the people do not want a waste of hard earned money.
David Caruana
Feb 13th 2011, 14:32
The people of Malta deserve better than this farce run by Dr.Gonzi and Dr.Muscat... if only they'd realise it!
Ivan Scicluna
Feb 13th 2011, 14:23
Who is Dr. Paul Borg Olivier trying to fool. Joseph Muscat in 2008 interviewed by the Sunday Times was reacting to a question regarding his stated position in favour of divorce from before he was elected leader of the PL just a few weeks before. He is being quoted out of context to accommodate the PN's spin and cover for the majestic U-Turn 360 degrees performed by Lawrence Gonzi on the referendum issue. Muscat spoke on the need of a popular mandate that he didn't have at that time and still he doesn't, but if the Maltese people vote for him in the next election, they would know that they are electing a prime minister who is in favour of divorce. Then a referendum would be a waste. But in 2008 nobody knew that JPO would come up with a private's members bill on divorce and brink the issue to the forefront of Maltese politics. This is why the PN statement is misleading and once again "filthy".
R. Caruana
Feb 13th 2011, 14:23
So now the PL is going to take a stand? Who's doing U-turns? The PL said that it will not take a stand on the divorce issue, but now is 'on the people's side', whatever that means. Mur ifimhom dawn!
J Brincat
Feb 13th 2011, 14:00
@r spiteri
Are you really surprised? GonziPN changes its decisions by the day!!!
saviour falzon
Feb 13th 2011, 13:13
well, a referendum is always good, so the people will make their choice, like showing their opinion!
BUT, a referendum is not enough, because you have many people, who don't know what does divorce law means! how can they know, when many people don't know the difference between a TRUNK and a TREE?
So it must be introduced immediatley, because its a fundamental human right!
I say this to those who oppose the divorce law," don't be afraid of a divorce law, you should not be since you have a strong relationship, and your man or wife loves you".
i cannot understand why all this fear about just a law!
"you think that your man or your woman, will leave you because of such LAW?".
Incredible but true- it's only in the mind, just an emotion of fear!
don't listen to the catholic church, the church only wants to decieve you, control you, laugh and smile to you , like a puppet just open your eyes of the malice and manipulating of the church.
don't be afraid of GHOSTS! you are free to choose on your own will!live your life happily free or be controlled.
RESIST OR SERVE!
Joe Zammit
Feb 13th 2011, 12:33
As far as I know all people die but not all marriages fail! According to the last statistic published by the government only 7% of our marriages are considered to have failed.
Divorce is the dissolution of a validly contracted marriage by a human person. After divorce, the divorcee acts the farce of entering into another fake marriage. Before God and the Catholic Church no divorce will dissolve marriage for the simple reason that no human person has the power to dissolve a valid marriage.
In marriage the spouses solemnly vow to remain married together for ever, also if their love, honour and respect wither. Otherwise it will be an invalid marriage right at the start.
Divorce will render marriage cohabitation. When the spouses want, they divorce and remarry. As simple (or rather as stupid!) as this!
Marriage + Divorce = Cohabitation
James Dimech
Feb 13th 2011, 12:07
PL on people's side - this means that PL's policy will be based on how many votes it will loose or win, not on doing what is right for the country.
"People" were against VAT, against wardens, against speed cameras and loads more. Had our leaders always listened to the "people" we would still be a third world country
A. Borg
Feb 13th 2011, 14:53
And without the Divorce we still are,my friend!
Steve Farrugia
Feb 13th 2011, 16:44
We are still a third world country - go to school
r spiteri
Feb 13th 2011, 11:49
Interview by The Sunday Times with Joseph Muscat - August 2008
Should a referendum be held?
"Calling a referendum would simply amount to passing the buck. It would be an irresponsible failure to postpone the decisions that need to be taken."
So he changed his opinion now?! Or is it all about speaking out according to the mood of the people on the day?!
ASpiteri
Feb 13th 2011, 14:03
"Calling a referendum would simply amount to passing the buck. It would be an irresponsible failure to postpone the decisions that need to be taken."
and he was right!
d.attard
Feb 13th 2011, 16:26
And since then Dr Gonzi said that Parliament had no mandate to discuss divorce and it would have to be a referendum to indicate a way forward. abour went along with that...but now Dr Gonzi will vote in a way that will not allow a referndum to take place.
Denis Pace
Feb 13th 2011, 11:39
"the people's side"??
Who on earth gives you the right to speak in the name of "the people"?
Your political opportunism is now irritating and exaggerated.
M.Cassar
Feb 13th 2011, 12:33
hear hear
Kenneth Williams
Feb 13th 2011, 12:36
Bl istess ragunar kif gonzi tieghek jghati flus il poplu lil tal linja ..lil tad dockyard...lil ta l air malta etc etc etc. Meta spiccajt jien kul ma hadt il karta tan notice
E Mifsud
Feb 13th 2011, 13:47
Let us have a referendum and the people will speak for themselves, problem solved. Only if the PN would allow it to be so, which does not seem to be the case.