Updated: Pullicino Orlando backs opposition call for referendum debate tomorrow
Updated: 3.20 p.m.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Michael Frendo, this afternoon rejected an Opposition request for the debate on the holding of a divorce referendum to be held in the House tomorrow. However the Opposition insisted that a vote should be held.
Labour MP Joe Mizzi made the request.
He said that since no agreement on the date of the debate had been reached at a meeting of the House Business Committee, he was calling for the House to discuss the motion tomorrow, which, in terms of standing orders, is the day reserved for private business.
He accused the government of 'obstructing' and said that there was a clear majority in the House in favour of holding the debate tomorrow.
Mr Mizzi insisted that the unofficial seven-day notice period before business came before the House did not apply for private motions. And in any case, the Opposition had proposed holding the debate on Friday week, but the government disagreed.
Mr Mizzi requested a ruling from the Speaker and said that he was requesting a House vote on the adjournment ruling.
Foreign Minister Tonio Borg, Leader of the House said there were rulings which laid down that notice had to be given before a vote on the adjournment motion was moved. He insisted that the government wanted the motion to be discussed in the near future, but the procedure proposed by the Opposition had never been followed before.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said there was consensus that a referendum should be called. The debate on the referendum was less contentious than the actual debate on the divorce bill, Dr Pullicino Orlando said, and he was therefore backing the Opposition call.
The Speaker, Michael Frendo, after adjourning the House to consider the request, ruled that the House Business Committee had not agreed on a programme of work which included tomorrow and, in terms of standing orders, the House had to meet on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday. He therefore turned down the Opposition request.
Mr Mizzi said he was requesting a vote on the adjournment motion and he was moving that the House meets tomorrow.
Dr Borg said notice had to be given before a motion to amend the adjournment motion.
The sitting was again interrupted for the Speaker to consider his decision.
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Reuben David Spiteri
Feb 17th 2011, 10:15
JPO: My way or no way. How very mature.
This country and its politicians are toast imho. Time to get out while we still can.
Joe Joe
Feb 17th 2011, 09:16
Jien fl-ahhar elezjioni generali ivvutajt lil PN u ghal l-ewwel ma iddizpjacini xejn . Imma illum qed nara partit ieher, partit li iktar ma immur iktar qed igal lil poplu bhali ibat .. Jien li jien favur id-divorzju naqbel mijja fil mijja ma Kap ta l-oppozizjioni Joseph Muscat ,iva u nghid grazzi lil JPO talli qed jiggiled biex issir Referendun dwar din il-kustjoni. Mil banda l-ohra ghanna Prim /Ministru li xeba jaghmel U Turn rigward dan is-suggett . Ejja ha inqumu mir-raqda li qedin dan il pajjiz u inhallu lin-nies jazlu li irridu ,
Rodnick Abdilla
Feb 16th 2011, 22:58
Gonzi tlift il control warrab anke shabek qed johduwa kontrik, hu break mil politika u ghati nifs il poplu Malti
Muscat Pat
Feb 16th 2011, 21:12
Dr Gonzi is assailed from his own Parliamentary group. He cannot blame the Opposition for problems of his own making. In a Parliamentary Democracy it is the seats in Parliament that count; sooner or later, he has to face reality: the writings are on the wall.
wayne criggs
Feb 16th 2011, 20:56
time up dr gonzi. game over
m.farrugia
Feb 16th 2011, 19:37
P.Borg, inti qieghed tiddubita il-genwinita ta' JPO illum, jiena kont nammirah ukoll bhalek imma issa tlift kull fiducja fih. Jigi jibki fuq TV jonqsu meta jkun qieghed jitkellem fuq id-divorzju sabiex jurina kemm huwa gfenwin. Imdorri jaghmilhom dawn ix-xeni.
simon borg
Feb 16th 2011, 19:03
A government that 2 years ago was reconfirmed with less than 50% of the votes. time to hang your boots. hundreds of people are losing their jobs. the retail sector is in shambles and millions going out for useless purposes. please, call an election.
A.Busuttil
Feb 16th 2011, 18:41
Gonzi wants more time to use the divorce issue as a smoked screen to other Problems such as increase to ministers, Air malta, Go. and many others
J. Borg
Feb 16th 2011, 18:37
This is the time to show what you are made of JPO, if you back off now just shows that you only after popularity.
c.cefai
Feb 16th 2011, 17:56
Can a vote of confidence be called about this issue????
Dr Francis Saliba
Feb 18th 2011, 10:12
Yes - but only if the Prime Minister shows signs of pre-senile dementia. and there are no sign of that yet!
Thomas Vella
Feb 16th 2011, 17:45
The PM has officially lost control of his MPs and was forced to shelve the day to day governing and other priorities (including bouncing back from the economic recession) in a bid to try to grab hold of what’s left of his cabinet. JPO is supporting Labour on holding a Referendum and according to him he’s not alone. In the mean time MT reported that Austin Gatt and a number of other MPs will try to shoot down the possibility of holding a Referendum. The PN has a serious internal crises provoked by ideological indifferences. Our PM has lost his majority this time and thanks to Labour, JPO and who knows who we’ll be voting in a referendum. This is Gonzi’s Staġun Politiku Ġdid characterized by internal crises depicting itself as a weak government.
Ganni ellul
Feb 16th 2011, 17:41
JPO. Int Trajditur ta l ewwel klassi u qed thalli minn jinqeda bik.
Saviour Aquilina
Feb 16th 2011, 17:31
JPO is counting the days in Parlament,because sure next time not be elected.If he need Divorce he must join AD or PL. From my family sure he will loose 17 votes.
m spiteri
Feb 16th 2011, 20:48
...and 8 votes from my family.
Philip Hili
Feb 17th 2011, 01:14
From mine 70.
CCurmi
Feb 17th 2011, 05:28
and from my family he will gain 20votes! go on Jeff, you're the man
Joe Zammit
Feb 16th 2011, 17:04
Divorce is a great social evil, condemned by Christ. It was evil yesterday, it is also today and it will remain so until the end of time.
No MP can vote in favour of divorce. To divorce is evil and condemned by God. God unites a couple in marriage for ever and no one, no State has the right to dissolve their marriage.
Divorce is a grave sin. Helping anyone to divorce is equally a grave sin. Voting in parliament in favour of divorce is grave sin that separates that MP from God and puts him on the way to hell. Divorce pleases only the devil and his followers.
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it's already guaranteed!
Anthony Borg
Feb 16th 2011, 21:41
Sur Zammit : you keep judging. WHO ARE YOU THEN ? DO NOT EVER JUDGE SO YOU WON'T BE JUDGED. And these are not my words ....................... !!!
Joe Zammit
Feb 16th 2011, 16:46
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!
Joe Zammit
Feb 16th 2011, 16:20
Divorce is a step backward. Progressive people back the indissolubility of marriage.
Divorce is a negative step. Progressive people back the indissolubility of marriage.
Divorce is a big injustice. Progressive people back the indissolubility of marriage which is justice according to the word given in the celebration of marriage.
Divorce is to the detriment of all people. Progressive people back the indissolubility of marriage which good for one and all.
Join in the battle between God and the devil! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it's already guaranteed!
Paul Barrett
Feb 17th 2011, 10:15
Wow - a new one, what is this "Back to the Future".
Divorce is a step forward. Progressive people back the divorce legislation following legal separation of marriage.
Divorce is a positive step. Progressive people back the freedom of choice.
Divorce is a big justice. Progressive people back the freedom to choose to apply for a divorce following legal separation which is justice according to free thinking people.
Divorce is to the benefit of all people. Progressive people back the divorce legislation which allows an optional second chance following legal separation of marriage which is good for one and all.
Join in the battle between free thinking people and the fundamentalists! Fight the good fight! The victory is ours, it's already guaranteed!
jbusuttil
Feb 16th 2011, 16:11
This is the way politics will be done with labour in power thanks for making it happen so that the people will realize that MLP just changed its initials to PL. Viva back to the 70's
david debattista
Feb 16th 2011, 15:50
Pullicino Orlanda stands out in the crowd. My Boy you have my respect and admiration for being the one to finally bring the divorce issue to light . What is sickening is the fact that you were let down by your own people. Be faithful to the facts and at all times guard your integrity. The Maltese people are not stupid, and they value integrity in a politician.
Philip Hili
Feb 17th 2011, 01:21
"The Maltese people are not stupid, and they value integrity in a politician."
Of course Maltese people are not stupid, and value the integrity in a politician, and how. Darba dahaq bina izda t-tieni darba MHUX SER JIDHAQ.
Min jidhaq l-ahhar jidhaq l-ahjar!!!!!!
Ghalhekk maghaggel, ghax diga' jaf li darba ohra ma jistax jiggilidha fil-parlament!!!!!ghax il-parlament BYE BYE.
Manuel Cassar
Feb 16th 2011, 15:45
It is truly appaling to look at the mess created by the PN on the issue of divorce. The prime minister first promised a referendum and then decided that the referendum would only be held if Members of Parliament agreed with divorce. Now he has accepted Labour's call to go for a referendum first. I really fail to understand how the PN got itself into this mess when it could have just agreed to a referendum in the first place
Joseph Micallef
Feb 16th 2011, 15:45
I think that GONZI'S future as prime minister is long overdue. The u-turns, paradoxes, irresponsible decisions, exploding cost of living, lack of reliability & reassurance, elimination of the lower and middle class, acting against the national interest etc.. are all negative adjectives which can be attributed to GONZI. It's for quite a long time that people from various walks of life are criticizing GONZI and his expired government for all this trouble and lack of leadership.
I can't remember and recall this level of unrest in the Maltese political history, not even during the 96-98. Now (and not only now), this has strongly reached parliament. GONZI, your MP's are against you. We saw you trying to convince weak backbenchers to vote in favour of you by visiting them in their own homes. You managed to ridicule the parliament to a circus. Where are your "par idejn sodi"?
Don't you think it's high time to take, at least, the only honorable and brave decision to call for a general election as early as possible, and step down in honor? At least you will be remembered as taking a responsible decision.
Philip Hili
Feb 17th 2011, 01:33
"We saw you trying to convince weak backbenchers to vote in favour of you by visiting them in their own homes."
Dawn il-backbenchers ma hemmx posthom fil-partit. Hasbu, li qeghdin imexxu l-Amerika jew??
Xkupawhom minn gol-Partit ghax hsara iktar jaghmlu. Dawn hargu ghal-politika ghal-gwadann taghhom u mhux bhal ma jghidu - biex iservu lil-pajjiz!!!!
Jiffurmaw partit ghalihom, ha naraw kemm minnhom jarawh hemm fuq. Fl-imghoddi kien hemm min telaq mil-Partit u ifforma partit u sejjahlu "Partit Demokratiku Nazzjonalista". Nahseb l-istorjar kull min ghandu ftit taz-zmien jafha.
Demis Paul Scerri
Feb 16th 2011, 15:38
I have been a Nationalist supporter since I was a boy and I have always supported my party especially in the hard times that we have passed through in Cospicua. But this year I am NOT going to renew my party membership because of the stand which the PN is taking against divorce. OK, as a party you have dediced to be against divorce in principle, but NOW pls go in parliament and at least set the date for a referendum at your earliest (although I do not agree with a referendum cause in my opinion it is a civil right to apply for divorce). I am really fed-up. It's a real pitty that in Malta we do not have a proper opposition. Till now PL is still without an official position on divorce. Why do we have to be always the clowns of the EU?
Marija Falzon
Feb 16th 2011, 15:35
This sure is not the democracy we had fought for Dr. Gonzi. No wonder many like myself have deserted you.
James Abela
Feb 16th 2011, 15:14
Gonzipn lost the majority in parliament and should call a general election now.
P Borg
Feb 16th 2011, 14:54
Why this rush JPO? I'm in favour of divorce but your 'strategy' makes me doubt your 'genuinity'
A.stefphanie
Feb 16th 2011, 14:50
dan bis-serjeta' ? dan hu l prim ministru ta' Malta, li l-anqas fuq xi haga ta' principju m'huma kapaci jaqqblu??!! m'ghadx fadal post ghal din it-tip ta' politika'. il-poplu mhux tal-loghob
J Borg
Feb 16th 2011, 16:30
'Il-poplu mux tal-loghob.' Is marriage, then, something to play with? You choose your loved one one day, then opt for another, then.......
L.Cardona
Feb 16th 2011, 22:58
@ J Borg
U x'jigri minn dik il-parti li giet abbandunata? Nghidu li din percezzjoni u ndahhlu rasna fir-ramel? Jew inkunu umani bhal bqija tad-dinja u 'l din il-povra ntuha cans tibda hajja mill-gdid. Min jaf kieku int jew uliedek isibu ruhhom bla ma jridu f'sitwazzjoni difficcli tibqghax tghid l-istess.
P Testa
Feb 16th 2011, 14:48
Gonzi should use the divorce saga to put his career as Prime Minister at rest.
Wilfred Camilleri
Feb 16th 2011, 18:16
And JPO should use this saga to put his career as a politician to rest. Oh and Joseph Muscat should this saga to put his career as leader of the PL to rest. And so on, and so on.....
Marija Falzon
Feb 16th 2011, 14:43
This the first time, for many years, where it is evident that the government cannot operate any longer. He's lost majority in Parliament, and the prime minister is in the minority, both in Parliament and with the People. I honestly think this cannot go any longer, if anything for Malta's sake.
L. Calleja
Feb 16th 2011, 16:37
X'ghandu x'jaqsma il-maggoranza fil-parlament fuq il-kwistjoni tad-divorzju meta diga ghandek membri miz-zewg nahat tal-kamra li lesti jivvutaw il-kontra ta' dak li qed jghidilhom il-partit kemm jekk id-dikjarazzjoni ta' l-amministrazzjoni tal-partiti saret fil-miftuh bhall PN jew dik ta' l-MLP li saret min taht u mhux pubblika.
Anthony Ellul
Feb 16th 2011, 14:42
Why the members of parliament are wasting time discussing about the referendum for the divorce. It don’t make sense when there was no referendum for the age of retirements to rise from 61 to 65 when this involve to all the workers in Malta, So why want to make a referendum for few couples that are unhappy together. It is better to take action as soon as possible about the problem of the single mothers that are increasing every year with unknown father (Hidden father) when is still sleeping with her!!! And take money from the social department paid from the tax payers’. What is going on the PN!
axuereb
Feb 16th 2011, 16:08
few couples that are unhappy together.... how very insensitive of you! what about abusive marriages where women face beatings on a daily basis?
james borg
Feb 16th 2011, 14:30
This is not what I voted for.
Bills going up by the minute, No TAX decrease as promised and now to add insult to injury we have these redundancy problems.
At the same time I receive a letter thanking me for the work i did over the years and which also stated that I may no longer go to my place of work as I have been made redundant. You GONZIPN and TEAM on the other hand spend parliamentary time counting the hundreds of euro's weekly increases in your salaries. This is definitely too much, we long to have a PM who can easily focus on the real problems this country is facing. Something that you have forgot to do at least from the last General Elections. Yes forgot because your standard of living is way far from ours.
So please take an honourable approach to all this mess and ask the voters to reconfirm you in office.
Joann Bugeja
Feb 16th 2011, 14:56
ppl like you always insult the govt because of obsession with power ! Mela what are YOU ppl of the opposition are doing !? You're all the time asking for the govt to resign and call an election..!! Incredible !
james borg
Feb 16th 2011, 15:31
@Joann Bugeja. I am sure you don't know me as I don't know you. But I assure you 100% that you are very wrong on your judgement. Explain to me please, what's left to happen after one loses work and bills are puring in the post? Don't you tell me to find another job, for the simple reasons of age plus the wages I am offered hardly make 50% of what I had. Honestly how would you cope with this situation? I'm not mentioning my pension, which is still calculated over the best consecutive 3 yrs out of the last 10 yrs. I still have 15 working yrs until I reach my Pension age. Are you by any chance being paid for commenting on TOM ?? Is there a chance you offer me a job with at least a decent salary? What am I gonna do when my children comes to pay their exams?? NO NO this is NOT what I've voted for. When we had a good leader things were much more different. And please don't blame it all on the international economic situation.
axuereb
Feb 16th 2011, 16:00
@ Joanne Bugeja: Jekk int komda, il-maggoranza tal-poplu m huwiex. Dan is-sinjur ghadu kemm tilef il-job filwaqt li l gvern ta qalbek ta zieda lilu nnifsu u l dawk ta madwaru ta 600 euro fil-gimgha.
L. Calleja
Feb 16th 2011, 14:26
Parliament rules should be obeyed otherwise chaos would ensue.
Steven Axis
Feb 16th 2011, 14:20
Lanqas magoranza ma fadalek fil parlament , what are you waiting for PM??????
R Sammut
Feb 16th 2011, 15:08
Dream on........
gcForte
Feb 16th 2011, 14:18
Dawn x`affarijiet huma.........J.P.O. publikament qeghed jghamel stqarrija li jaqbel ma l-oppozizjoni. Ghalhekk l-ispeaker ma ghandux ghazla ohra ghajr dik li jobdi lil maggoranza li tmur fil parlament. Il parlament gie qiesu il it teatru Manuel, dejjem b`xi farsa............Il motto sar "Ejjew naqblu li ma qbilniex ". Imbaghad jigi xi gharef u jghejd li dan huwa il pajjiz ta Mickey Mouse................Dan huwa pajjiz miskin, li kull gurnata riesaq b`heffa mghaggla bir ras ghal gol hajt.
Andrew Borg-Cardona
Feb 16th 2011, 14:14
A bit of shameless self-promotion on my part: http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20110216/andrew-borg-cardona/while-the-middle-east-burns
axuereb
Feb 16th 2011, 15:04
but sniping at each other about when (not even about whether) the great unwashed should be consulted, for all the world as if said great unwashed has the right to tell me or you or Joey down the road how to live our lives......
agree 100 %.
Joseph Cauchi
Feb 16th 2011, 14:13
May I ask why all this rush?
Let us first have mature and sensible debates about the pros and cons of divorce and after a reasonable period of time and then yes, let’s go for the referendum.
I am in favour of an abrogative referendum, because after all the 69 MPs will have to decide at the end, whether after a consultative or an abrogative referendum.
The advantage of an abrogative referendum is the fact that the electorate will be presented with the actual bill consisting of all the conditions and clauses as approved by the House of Representatives while a consultative referendum would not!
We should not rush through things, because in Maltese we have a saying “Qattusa ghaggelija frieh qomja tghamel”
JC.
Joann Bugeja
Feb 16th 2011, 15:00
all that the opposition is interested in is simply not to co operate with the govt !
N.Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 15:22
Agreed completely. I actually think that holding a referendum before refining the Bill will result in it being rejected by the public. I for one, who am all out for divorce, have reservations on voting on something cloudy and unfinished. I am sure JPO put a lot of time and effort into the Bill, but the reason it should go through Parliament is to strengthen it even more! If one had to draw a parallel with the last referendum, it would be like holding a referendum on "Do you want Malta to be part of the EU?" and only then negotiate the entry package!! What if this package is all wrong and I voted Yes? What if the package was much better than expected but I had voted No?
axuereb
Feb 16th 2011, 16:06
@ Joanne Bugeja: OH u seem to live on another planet! remember when Dr Alfred Sant was PM? Did the PN ever co-operate on anything during those 22 months?
We are curious to see how much they will co-operate with Dr Muscat when he is elected prime minister in 2 years time!
C.Camilleri
Feb 16th 2011, 21:31
In case you have'nt noticed, it was JPO nationalists backbencher who put divorce on the parliament agenda.
james borg
Feb 16th 2011, 14:09
I strongly agree with surfturtle.
As for PM Mr.GONZI there is only one honourable way to take.
Call a General Election; obviously I know it's hard for you to lose your premiership. I have no doubt that the news that you don’t have the majority behind you anymore reached your office, and yes this makes it harder. You are bound to loose and loose BIG time this time. We the middle class workers are the worst hit by your tenor as PM. I look forwards and vote against the GONZIPN team as you can no longer lead this country.
Times UP!! I'm sure you will enjoy a luxury life with your family, especially after the hefty increase in your salary. I will soon be made redundant and have to look for work with half the salary I enjoy today. Thanks to past Labour and PN Govts plus collective agreements with Unions. Yes all Unions did their part.
But I would like to make sure you (GONZIPN TEAM) clearly understand that when I mention PN it’s definitely not your GONZIPN.
J Farrugia
Feb 16th 2011, 21:13
Gonzi is not Sant. This issue of the divorce is just a defeatist tactic by the opposition to destroy the PN Government. But it will never succeed not with those members who were in the Mintoff KMB Cabinets still lurking in the shadows. Never again.