Yes vote currently in the lead - No Movement
The Yes for Divorce vote currently enjoys a small majority, which has, however, shrunk from the 53 per cent at the beginning of the campaign, the No Movement said this afternoon.
Addressing a news conference, Arthur Galea Salomone criticised the Yes Movement for focusing on 'half-truths' throughout the campaign. This, they said, was worrying since this was a historical referendum.
Giving examples, he said that although the referendum question stated that children would be looked after, according to a study held by his movement, 71 per cent of the Maltese believed the introduction of divorce would have a negative impact on children.
The Iva movement also used the term responsibility when this was a no fault divorce, therefore not reflecting responsibility at all. It was also a divorce which could be imposed on a party who did not want it.
Dr Galea Salomone pointed out that over 11 years, an average of 11 people per year obtained from divorce from abroad. He said that in the first part of this year, 404 people were married, 56 per cent of them in church. But there were only 24 couples where both partners were Maltese who married civilly.
Dr Galea Salomone said that the Iva tried to present divorce as a solution for battered women and cohabiting couples.
Yet, once introduced, people's faith in marriage decreased and cohabitation increased.
In Ireland, cohabitation increased by 400 per cent since divorce was introduced.
The movement also criticised the Yes camp for trying to use Cana Movement founder Mgr Charles Vella to promote its campaign.
He said the No movement did not think divorce should be applied to civil marriages because these were not second class to religious ones.
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Mr Peter Korsten
May 26th 2011, 08:29
"Arthur Galea Salomone criticised the Yes Movement for focusing on 'half-truths' throughout the campaign."
Ha ha ha! That's a good one. The pot calling the kettle black.
Steve Mizzi
May 26th 2011, 08:16
"Giving examples, he said that although the referendum question stated that children would be looked after, according to a study held by his movement, 71 per cent of the Maltese believed the introduction of divorce would have a negative impact on children."
How can you rebut a statement with what people believe, a belief is not a fact, before Copernicus 99.999% of people surveyed would have said that they believed that the Earth was flat and that it was at the centre of the universe with all the other celestial bodies orbiting it. Belief/perception is NOT fact.
Would Dr Galea Salomone be so kind as to enlighten us by stating the increase of co-habitation in Malta since the inftroduction of divorce in Ireland? I bet that it would be over 1000%
I am astounded that such an illogical statement was uttered by a Doctor of Law.
Mr John Cassar
May 26th 2011, 07:16
Certain polls speak otherwise. It's the umpteenth reason not to trust ZbD and go out and vote for Solidarity.
Vote Yes.
Mr Anton Portelli
May 25th 2011, 22:39
Arthur Galea Salomone CANNOT accuse the Yes Movement and its leaders that they are saying half truths. Half truths and inaccuracies are being used by his movement to scare people from Voting Yes.Examples
They quote statistics that cohabitation and children born to single parents are on the increase and attribute these increases to the introduction of divorce only when they know that there other factors contributing to these increases. In fact these trends are also seen in Malta itself even though we do not have divorce!
They say that children suffer with the introduction of divorce - don't children suffer with separations and annulments????
They say that poverty will increase because a breadwinner will have to care for two families - at the moment without divorce but with FORCED COHABITATION is it not the same situation?
They say that with divorce men will start divorcing their wife as soon as she is above size 10 - Are these NO people blind? Don't they see men who are happy with wives much much bigger than size 10?
Aren't there people who have got more than one or two annulments from the church - maybe these are the lucky few and maybe there are unknown reasons why they are lucky.
Besides who is using all kinds of scaremongering tactics like threatening with mortal sins, calling those prodivorce all kinds of names and prohibiting them from the sacraments.
Why has Dr. Schembri been suspended fromdefending her clients in annulment procedures.
Recently a person told me the following when I asked his opinion "When I go out I prefer to have an umbrella with me. If it rains I will have a choice to use it and keep my head dry and not risking getting a cold or I can choose to keep walking in the rain and get soaked to the skin. On the other hand I cannot imagine that I can stop it raining by not taking an umbrella with me!"
So I urge all those who have a brain to think themselves and not swallw what is imposed on them by the No Crusaders to vote a Big YES.
Mr Paul Barrett
May 25th 2011, 21:01
The Anti-divorce Movement must be currently residing in the world of Alice in Wonderland as their logic is simply astounding in its illogical conclusions.
M Piscopo
May 25th 2011, 19:50
Come on Dr Salomone. Who do you think will be stupid enough to believe your numbers? Your 'revelation' that the Yes vote is ahead in the polls is the oldest trick in the book. You have to do better than that, sir!
Victor Pulis
May 25th 2011, 18:43
Where divorce was introduced marriages decreased and cohabitation increased. So why is the no movement always going on about the second, third, fourth marriage? it's either one or the other.
Ms Lynn Zahra
May 25th 2011, 18:07
If reports say 40% are or were still undecided , surely Dr.AGS's statement is meant to get out voters to vote No?
Mr J Xerri
May 25th 2011, 17:48
Who is saying the truth Galea Salamone who stated that during 11 years there were an average of 11 people obtained divorce from overeas, or Minister Gatt who in a reply to a parliamentary question gave figures which show that in the last 11 years more than 38 overseas divorces were registered in the local courts?
Charles J. Buttigieg
May 25th 2011, 17:34
".......according to a study held by his movement, 71 per cent of the Maltese believed the introduction of divorce would have a negative impact on children.' Wrong and stupid conclusion. 100% of the people in the world would agree that divorce would have a negative impact on children. Let's all vote No for divorce since our children are not negatively effected with annulments,legal separations,cohabitation and born out of wedlock. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THIS STUDY AS I WAS JUST ABOUT TO VOTE YES. hi hi hi hi ,
Mr Nathan Darmanin
May 25th 2011, 17:27
"Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves." Abraham Lincoln.
Vote Yes for Divorce
Mr Joseph Calleja
May 25th 2011, 17:16
"Yes vote currently in the lead - No Movement". If this resolution don't pass it will be an injustice against those spouses that suffer under domestic abuse. Nobody is asking anybody else to get a divorce but on the other hand we should not deny divorce to those who need it. We don't deny annulments so why should we deny divorce? Vote yes for divorce and let the married couple decide what is good or bad for them, but at least let them make the choice by voting yes. Don't meddle in other people's personal affairs.
Mr Michael Camileri
May 25th 2011, 17:14
Currently, Those who choose 'no' actually have more rights than those that wish for 'yes'. Sounds very wrong to me.
Mr Edgar Gatt
May 25th 2011, 17:11
With about 40% undecided, it is not possible to say who is in the lead. Saying that the YES is in the lead by the NO movement is an old trick. Making the Yes voters think that by being in the lead they can relax. It is important that we encourage the YES voters to all go out and cast their vote
Victor Rodenas
May 25th 2011, 16:59
Whatever the result may be,the YES and NO will both say that they `won`.Mark my words.
Ms C. Dimech
May 25th 2011, 16:51
It will be a historical vote, and also an indelible moment in our memories where we were presented with the real colors of many. Once again it goes beyond the winning at this point but is more about standing up for what we believe in, democracy and the belief in EVERYONE's right to live happily. In the American constitution the Pursuit of Happiness is one of the 3 listed fundamental rights of ALL human beings, along with the right to life and the right of liberty. We had to listen to you and your ilk force feed us junk about minority rights. Well news flash Dr. Salamone, we are not geese being fattened for the kill.
Joseph Camilleri
May 25th 2011, 16:36
interesting that Dr Galea Salomone said that... all polls indicate that the No vote is actually in the lead. Perhaps he is aware that public knowledge of a lead by the NO vote could mean that undecided might just stay home. Nice strategy to drum up support.
Gordon Farrugia
May 25th 2011, 16:24
its the classic scaremongering tactic that has been adopted before.... scaring those that don't care to cast their vote or those hesitating to go out to convince them to vote and make a difference. in one word cheap but effective 'propaganda'!
Mr Michael Debono
May 25th 2011, 16:16
Yet, once introduced, people's faith in marriage decreased and cohabitation increasedDR Solomone writing.
What a stupid comparison, even a childish one. Cohabitation increased because of the introduction of divorce in Ireland.!!
If divorce was not legalised then less people would have cohabited!! Has this any intelligent meaning? Absurd Yes, but not reasonable. One is free to invent instead of quoting truthfully.
Referring to cohabitation, it would appear that the NO group see nothing wrong in cohabitation. They are in fact eager to see such legislation introduced by this Government
Cohabitation is a non legalised divorce. The couple can leave each other without a whisper and find another partner all over again for the Nth time.
What they are expecting to happen if divorce is legalised will more easely happen if people are left free to cohabitate. In point of fact Jesus Christ condemned more severely those who cohabitate than those whe seek divorce.Ponder anti divorsists!
Mr Marius Zulgis
May 25th 2011, 16:05
Yes vote currently in the lead. Translation: Common sense is prevailing.
Galea Salomone is trying to drum up support for the (lost?) cause - what cause? Oh! The cause to have other people decide what's best for you :)
Follow your consciences and you'll be fine on the 28th!
Mr M Vella***
May 25th 2011, 16:04
Importanti li nohorgu bi hgarna nivvotaw biex ma nghatux rebha lil min qieghed jghalqilna lbieb ma wiccna u jbezzghu! Ma naqtawx qalbna nghamlu kuragg! start a new life IN MARRIAGE and not in cohabitation. Which, ironically, is the only solution being offered by the 'No' movement . Do not let yourself be cowered by superstition, by the fear of hell-fire that exists only to intimidate. Vote YES.
Mr Tonio Micallef
May 25th 2011, 15:59
Quoting polls at this juncture, just 3 days from polling day is very unappropriate. The Maltese electorate is very fluid at this point in time with many people still undecided. The female vote is being bombarded with a fierceful FEAR CAMPAIGN that we haven't witnessed like it since the 1960's. All polls that can be quoted DO NOT include 5000 voters in Old People's Homes all under the control of the NO Campaign. You have to add another 2000 priests, nuns and members of the religious orders who are never polled in the telephone surveys. These will create a huge imbalance in the final result of the referendum. The NO Campaign is saying that the YES vote is in the lead so as to gain sympathy from those who are still undecided.
Mr Leonard Brincat
May 25th 2011, 16:12
Well said Mr Micallef
Mr Albert Farrugia
May 25th 2011, 16:19
So what's your take on this, Mr Micallef? Do you suspect that the NO, is infact ahead?
Martin Abela
May 25th 2011, 16:39
Nice , now those who are of the YES campaign because that what you really are are scaremongering and saying that the religious and the old are biased, oh give us alla break!!!