Kurt Sansone, Matthew Xuereb
Yes to divorce
Majority of 14,576 vote for Bill... Their wish will be fulfilled – PM
A substantial majority of people voted for the introduction of divorce legislation in a historic referendum held on Saturday in which the Yes vote prevailed by a margin of 14,576 votes.
The result, 53.2 per cent to 46.8 per cent, was described as “a vote of solidarity” by pro-divorce movement chairman Deborah Schembri and branded as the “birth of a new era” by Labour leader Joseph Muscat.
In a televised pre-recorded address less than two hours after the vote counting process had started and when it was clear that the Yes vote had won, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the will of the majority had to be respected.
“It is Parliament’s duty to execute the people’s wishes and prepare a divorce law... the wishes of the majority should naturally be fulfilled while respecting the conscience of MPs who feel it is not possible for them to approve the law and so have to abstain or vote against,” Dr Gonzi said.
In his first comments after the result, Arthur Galea Salomone from the anti-divorce movement said the people had spoken “loud and clear” and their will should be respected.
The atmosphere at the Mediterranean Conference Centre where the votes were counted was calm even though the two major political parties had mobilised their counting agents to track the result.
The first indication of a victory for the pro-divorce camp was out after an hour of vote counting although the elation was contained because results from the Gozo district were giving the No vote a strong showing.
In a span of 10 minutes the tide turned giving the Yes camp a sure victory. Nationalist backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who started the ball rolling last year, was visibly emotional and, in a rare scene of cross-party camaraderie, he hugged Labour MP Evarist Bartolo.
Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Michael Briguglio and other Green Party activists also rejoiced as the Yes vote vindicated the party’s long-held stand in favour of divorce.
With a turnout of 72 per cent there were 230,518 valid votes cast with the Yes vote garnering 122,547 preferences (53.2 per cent) and the No vote obtaining 107,971 preferences (46.8 per cent).
The Yes vote registered victories in all but three electoral districts, although it was the Labour-leaning southern districts that carried the day with a very strong showing for the pro-divorce camp.
Relatively high voter abstention
In the second, third, fourth and fifth districts, the Yes vote was well above the 60 per cent mark. The highest Yes victory was registered in the second district where 66 per cent ticked the yellow box.
The Yes majority in the other districts ranged between 52 per cent in the seventh and 10th districts, and 54 per cent in the ninth.
Gozo and another two districts in Malta were the only ones where the No vote prevailed. The strongest showing of the anti-divorce vote was in Gozo where the No garnered 68 per cent of preferences.
In the eighth district 52 per cent voted No, and 54 per cent in the 11th district.
Voter abstention was relatively high when compared to other elections and the EU referendum in 2003. A total of 20,775 voters did not bother to collect their voting document and another 71,691 did not go out and vote. Another 2,173 invalidated their vote.
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Bud Moureaux - Flanders (BE) & Xemxija, SPB (MT)
May 30th 2011, 13:31
To all Maltese citizens!
Having witnessed the charade by the Church, the conclusion is obvious. We should now strive for two things within the shortest possible time,
- first, the separation of State and Church, i.e. abolish Article 2 of the Constitution and
- secondly, the correct delineation between Church and State, excluding any interference whatsoever by the Church in State affairs.
Therefore, to this effect, let's start
(1) A FaceBook group.
(2) Set up a Movement with an appropriate name, e.g. No more State within the State; Malta-Secular YES, Malta-Church NO, ...
(3) Organize the necessary lobbying work for putting all this into laws to that effect.
In the past weeks leading up to Saturday's referendum, the Maltese voters have learnt how the Church has been scaremongering and lying to their flock and they have witnessed the utter hypocrisy the Church has shown by their belated apology. The voters are now much better armed to resist the Church's dirty tricks in the next campaign.
The correction of the relationship between the State and the Church in Malta is already 50 years overdue. An untenable situation will then finally cease to persist. In this way, Malta will become a real secular society where Maltese citizens will effectively be able to decide for themselves without fearing to be bullied by Mgr. XYZ and consorts. The Church in Malta should restrict its role to its teaching and advice to its own flock, i.e. Catholics, but refrain by all means from scaremongering and dictating what others should or shouldn't do.
Maltese voters are mature, conscientious people. They have shown it last Saturday, the D-Day for Divorce legislation. So, let's go for it, under the motto 'YES, we can do it!'
Bud Moureaux, partially residing in Flanders, BE and in Xemxija, SPB, MT.
Mr Simon Galea
May 30th 2011, 12:55
'It is Parliament’s duty to execute the people’s wishes and prepare a divorce law..................while respecting the conscience of MPs who feel it is not possible for them to approve the law and so have to abstain or vote against'
How can the people's wishes be respected when at the same instance MPs vote against the people's wishes? I find this reasoning very undemocratic. What if after forking 4 million euro from the taxpayers' pocket the decision is not respected?
Dr.Gonzi please stop this mind game. The people were asked to decide, the decision was YES and the ALL MPs are bound to vote YES now. FULLSTOP
Ms Francesca Abela
May 30th 2011, 11:25
And if the church did not try a moral guilt trip for which it apologised too late - the yes vote would have been higher.
Mr Patrick Zammit
May 30th 2011, 11:13
Only one third of businesses in Gozo declare a profit.
Fiscal receipts in Gozo are an endangered and rare species and afforded full protection in its natural habitat.
Proportionally, a larger percentage of Gozitans are in receipt of some form of Social Security benefit.
Gozo, interesting...
Gerry Cowie
May 30th 2011, 11:08
Since when has 52% been "substantial"?
Adrian Cardona
May 30th 2011, 12:21
just goes to show how little you know about Maltese voting patterns. Now go away and convert a sheep.
A. Slater
May 30th 2011, 12:59
It's as substantial as Ursain Bolt 'smashing' the world record in the 100m by 0.11 of a second.
It's as substantial as Spain winning the world cup by one goal.
It's as substantial as Vettel obtaining pole position by 7 tenths of a second
It's as substantial as Star, the dog that survived being shot in the head and buried alive
Mr mike Knight
May 30th 2011, 10:50
I think the solicitors are going to be very busy in Malta, for what i can see since we have been here alot of disatified marriages and neddless to say a yes vote was in the bag, at least Malta is coming out its thick shell, the only backward place that needs to be educated is that other little island whats it called now oh Gozo needs to wake up now as most are living in limbo.
Mr david debattista
May 30th 2011, 16:55
Well well ,if it's not the brave * My Knight * telling us who needs to be educated, funny you had no misspells.
Now with regards to education, how about a little modesty from your part, It will suit you better, who knows might even qualify you as an educated person.
Charles Sammut
May 30th 2011, 09:59
". . . . . . respecting the conscience of MPs who feel it is not possible for them to approve the law and so have to abstain or vote against,” Dr Gonzi said."
And there I was, all along thinking that MPs are elected to represent their constituents' wishes rather than their own. I will no doubt keep this in mind come voting time.
Victor Cauchi
May 30th 2011, 09:11
"A total of 20,775 voters did not bother to collect their voting document and another 71,691 did not go out and vote. "
Much has been said yesterday that besides the introduction of divorce, we should now go all out in strengthening the family. Would it not to be a good idea to delve into the gender and age group of 92,466 non-voters to learn more about current trends of indifference?
It is rumoured that most of these non-voters fall within the 18-30 age group. Could it be that these persons could not care less about marriage in the first place, let alone subsequent divorce?
Mr dawn bruno wood
May 30th 2011, 11:07
Victor Cauchi; i am one of the 20,775 people who didnt collect there vote not because i didnt want to vote but because at the time of voting i am abroad. and just to put the record straight i am in the age bracket of 35 - 45 yrs old so rumours are not worth listening to, i believe the youngsters are not that naive and swayed by the church and choose to live alone or in sin untill they are sure that marriage is right for them. after all as the saying goes you never know a person untill you live with them.