Private Member’s Bill on divorce to be withdrawn if people vote no

The two MPs who presented the divorce Bill in Parliament have agreed to withdraw it if the majority vote against the introduction of divorce in a referendum.

Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and his Labour counterpart Evarist Bartolo, who jointly presented the Private Member’s Bill, said the people’s voice expressed in a referendum would be heard.

“I will definitely never, ever consider going against what the people have to say. If the majority vote against the introduction of divorce it no longer makes sense to discuss the Bill in Parliament – it would be a waste of everybody’s time,” Dr Pullicino Orlando said, while Mr Bartolo agreed.

This had been mentioned by Labour leader Joseph Muscat in Parliament when he said the Bill should be withdrawn during this legislature if the people voted ‘no’ in the referendum.

Parliament on Wednesday agreed a divorce referendum will be held on May 28, and people will be asked the contentious question put to the Irish in 1995.

This issue has put some MPs in a conundrum, as they decide between wanting to respect its outcome yet remaining at peace with their conscience.

So, irrespective of the outcome, will MPs listen to the people who elected them? A survey carried out by The Sunday Times among 67 of the 69 MPs (two were unreachable) shows the majority will not thwart the democratic process, even if in certain cases the result and their beliefs are intrinsically opposed.

A minority – 12 MPs – firmly believe that no party has a mandate to introduce divorce during this legislature. Nothing will sway their principles and their conscience will prevail.

Another six feel the only way they can reconcile the two intrinsic values of respecting the democratic process with their stand on divorce is by abstaining if the result does not tally with their beliefs.

Quite a number of Labour MPs made it clear they will respect the referendum result, but added the caveat “during this legislature”. This is what some of them had to say:

Carmelo Abela [PL]

I’m against divorce, but if we’re going to the people to hear what they have to say I’m morally obliged to follow the will of the majority.

David Agius [PN]

I will decide according to my conscience, while fully respecting the will of the people in the light of what is being proposed in the divorce Bill. Having said that, I have to vote on a Bill that has yet to be presented in Parliament and I believe certain things within it will need to be ascertained, such as guaranteeing children’s maintenance.

Francis Agius [PN]

It all depends on the outcome. I struggle between wanting to uphold my values, yet at the same time respect the will of the people – it’s not easy. I don’t wish to be anti-democratic, yet this is being forced on MPs when there was never a mandate. I have my views, but I don’t rule out respecting the will of the people.

Jason Azzopardi [PN]

I will respect the people’s will but will not go against my conscience either.

Charlò Bonnici [PN]

I will be guided solely by my conscience when it comes to the discussion and voting on the divorce Bill, after first letting people express themselves through the referendum.

Owen Bonnici [PL]

During this legislature I will respect the will of the people so if they vote ‘no’ I will abstain.

Leo Brincat [PL]

Shocked as I am that there are three annulments a week and separations continue to mushroom, I find it anomalous that our system accepts multiple annulments, but not divorce. I will nevertheless respect the popular vote and agree with (Labour leader) Joseph Muscat that the Bill should be withdrawn during this legislature if the ‘no’ vote prevails in the referendum.

Stefan Buontempo [PL]

I am against divorce, but I worked very hard to ensure the people can decide through a referendum. So even though as an individual I will cast my vote against, in Parliament I will respect the people’s wishes.

Justyne Caruana [PL]

It would be presumptuous to express myself before the referendum result is out because I don’t wish to influence voters with my stand. This is a matter of conscience.

Joe Cassar [PN]

My conscience will prevail, but there are choices, the same way as the UN Security Council saw five countries abstain from voting on a no-fly zone against Libya. It also depends on the outcome – it’s one thing if the result is close but another if there’s a huge gap. I hope people realise MPs will be voting on a Bill that has yet to be presented in Parliament.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca [PL]

I will not hinder the democratic process. I will respect the people’s wishes, but my convictions against divorce remain so I will abstain from voting on the Bill in Parliament.

Franco Debono [PN]

I’m not in favour of divorce, but I will be listening to what the people have to say and consider their message.

Louis Deguara [PN]

Whenever I was canvassing door to door, divorce was never on the agenda. I don’t believe the Bill should ever have been moved in Parliament. I will vote according to my conscience and against divorce.

Tonio Fenech [PN]

While I’m a democrat, I will respect my conscience first. I think everyone has made it clear this is a consultative referendum and not a binding one. My final decision depends on a lot of things, and most importantly the Bill presented in Parliament has to respect the promises made in the question, such as guaranteeing children’s rights and maintenance. Whoever put the question together should have been clear in its intent – we are being told it’s responsible divorce but it’s not. There’s a long road to walk once the Bill is presented.

Beppe Fenech Adami [PN]

I will vote against any divorce legislation irrespective of the referendum result. The PN never promised divorce in its electoral manifesto and if it did I would have either not contested or been obliged to back it. Just because Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando et al decided we should introduce divorce, it doesn’t mean I have to vote in favour. I cannot change my beliefs if I believe something is wrong.

Censu Galea [PN]

Hopefully, there will not be a conflict between my values and the outcome in the referendum result. However, we have to take note of what the people say.

José Herrera [PL]

I understand this is a matter of conscience for most MPs, especially those who are against the introduction of divorce. I’m in favour on legislating on divorce, while still adhering to my religious values. However, if people vote against I will respect their wishes. I’d have a greater issue of conscience if I went against people’s wishes.

Philip Mifsud [PN]

I’m against divorce and I cannot bring myself to ever vote in favour. But if people choose to go down this road I will find it very hard to go against their will, so I will abstain.

Clyde Puli [PN]

I will vote according to my conscience, and I will base my decision on how to vote in a way that fully respects the people’s will.

Edwin Vassallo [PN]

I will vote based on my values. This exercise (of The Sunday Times) can only prejudice MPs’ sincerity. This is a consultative referendum that is not binding and you cannot twist MPs’ arms when divorce was on nobody’s mandate.

Adrian Vassallo [PL]

I will vote against the introduction of divorce in Parliament. If the referendum result is a win for the ‘no’ camp I will go out and celebrate; if not I will do my utmost to ensure divorce is not introduced. I will be campaigning in my own way. The referendum is consultative and I will be ignoring its outcome. Divorce is wrong for society and its introduction has nothing to do with being European. Is abortion a European value?

Francis Zammit Dimech [PN]

I will act in such a way that will respect the people’s decision, so if the result is a win for the ‘yes’ camp, I will abstain to ensure the people’s will prevails.