Beppe Fenech Adami to vote 'No'
Beppe Fenech Adami, the son for the former Prime Minister, is to vote No when the Divorce Bill comes up in Parliament.
"I will vote No as I choose to be consistent rather than popular," Dr Fenech Adami told timesofmalta.com.
He said he was comforted by the fact that there appeared to be a majority for the Bill to be approved, in line with the outcome of the referendum.
"There is no need for unanimity for the Bill to be approved, the referendum result was not unanimous either," he said.
He said that had the majority in parliament been in danger, he would have had to consider his position and resign from Parliament, because he could not vote for something which he considered to be wrong.
He said he also drew comfort from the fact that the majority within his own district (the eighth) had voted against divorce.
Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt has also publicly declared he will vote against the Bill. Other No votes are expected from Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono and former Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo.
Shortly after the referendum result was known, Dr Fenech Adami had stressed that divorce legislation could go through Parliament without opposing parliamentarians compromising their personal values.
“What Parliament needs to pass this law is a majority and I think there will be a majority in favour of the introduction of divorce without the vote of those who feel strongly about not voting in favour,” he had told The Times.
The Nationalist party took an official position against the introduction of divorce, even though the private member’s Bill had been presented by their own backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.
However PN General Secretary Paul Borg Olivier has reiterated that Nationalist MPs have a free vote in parliament, as long as the Bill is approved, in line with the referendum result.
The Prime Minister's brother, Michael Gonzi, earlier today said he would vote yes.
In the Labour camp. MP Adrian Vassallo has said he would vote No while Marie-Louise Coleiro said she will abstain.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
60 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Gerry Cowie
Jun 5th 2011, 18:27
Those who have been crowing for minorities to be respected must now take some of their own medicine and let MPs get on with voting according to their consciences and ensuring that everybody's views are taken in to account.
Mr Matthew Grima
Jun 6th 2011, 15:20
Argument can be turned both ways.
Those that did not want to bother about minorities should know take some of their own medicine and remain silent, as that is what they wanted when they thought that they were a majority.
Ms pat muscat
Jun 5th 2011, 07:14
In the 80s it was about the will of the majority: today its about the will of the minority? This is what I call real democratic consistency!
Mr C Galea
Jun 5th 2011, 03:28
this may well be your goodbye Mr Beppe Fenech Adami. your duty as a member of parliament is to vote yes therby reflecting the views of those that elected you, but then when has an ego pehaps one has an ego and that is the will of one , what can be said about that. A distant goodbye perhaps?
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Jun 5th 2011, 11:03
How so, if divorce was not on the PN's agenda before the general elections?
In this whole saga the PN's biggest and only fault was holding a referendum. They should have voted against it in parlament and that would have been that - it would have been fair and just. It would have also avoided them the whole mess that they find themselves in, now.
George Vella
Jun 5th 2011, 13:18
Ms Rudi Mcbeal you are right and to the point. The referendum should have been blocked right from the begining as I always maintained.
Saviour Aquilina
Jun 5th 2011, 15:57
I think those why vote YES will say goodbye to parliament, not those who vote NO. I will not going to vote to those that will vote YES.
Mr Matthew Grima
Jun 6th 2011, 15:24
Ms Rudi Mcbeal, do you even know what the point of a private member's bill is? Do you believe that every law passed in Malta was written in an electoral campaign? Far from it. We had the referendum because it wasn't on the agenda of neither party. Same happened with the EU, so stop harping on about it.
Saviour Aquilina, I'm pretty sure both sides of the camp have that same approach, some will not vote to those that abstain or vote no, and others will do like you'll do. Thus meaning that this referendum was a waste of time and money, which resulted in a lose-lose situation for the MPs no matter what they vote. All they're doing now is analysing the least damaging outcome.
George Vella
Jun 5th 2011, 02:58
Beppe keep your good principles which you owe to your people, for divorce was not proclaimed during the last election. The referendum was a farce.
Chris Farrugia
Jun 5th 2011, 00:46
What a stupid comment from daddy's boy. Now he's accusing all Nationalist MPs who vote in favour of being inconsistent and voting for popularity. Wise choice indeed!
Carmel Dimech
Jun 4th 2011, 23:50
Pajjiz tal mickey mouse suppost dawn in nies qeghdin hemm fuq biex jirraprezentaw lil poplu, issa jekk il poplu ivvota favur, il parlamentari jridu jzommu mar rieda tal poplu inkella jistghu jirrizenjaw u barra minn hekk ifisser li nkun hlejna 4 miljuni mill kaxxa ta Malta ghalxejn.
Ms Maria Vella
Jun 6th 2011, 15:49
Pajjiz tal- mickey mouse ghax xi hadd ghandu principji u jzomm maghhom?
says a lot about people now adays and the lack of principles that abound
Ivan Scicluna
Jun 4th 2011, 22:59
It is a big mistake for any party to take a prior stand for or against a subjective and personal issue like divorce in the first place. If you want to be consistent, then be consistent with the decision of the Maltese electorate after the referendum.
Mr Alfred Cassar
Jun 4th 2011, 21:55
Skont hafna minn dawn il-kummenti, fil-parlament imissu hemm biss deputati tal-PN ghax il-maggoranza tal-poplu hekk ried. ISsa kulhadd jaf li din ma taghmilx sens, Allura ghalfejn din il-pressjoni kollha biex kulhadd jivvota iva ghax huma qeghdin hemm biex jirraprezentaw lil-poplu. Il-poplu min hu? Il-poplu huma dawk li vvutaw iva u anke dawk li vvutaw le.
Din il-pressjoni kollha hi bla sens u ridikola ghax kulhadd jaf li l-ligi se tghaddi.
Qabel ir-referendum kulhadd talab ghal free vote fil-parlament. Issa spicca l-free vote li wieghed Dr Muscat, issa jew bilfors tivvota iva jew itlaq, tista tkun l-aktar deputat/a habrieki/a fil-PL
Mr Dominic Chircop
Jun 4th 2011, 21:49
Beppe,
When your father was President, he once said that if a bill was presented to him and he felt he could not sign it, he would have resigned.
That is called integrity. So, rather than waiting for the next general election to throw you and your ilk out, do the most honourable thing. RESIGN !!
Tony Mercieca
Jun 4th 2011, 21:43
like father like son, ,living in the past, and please make way for others who have the decency to respect the peoples wishes
Mr R. Abela
Jun 4th 2011, 21:35
Thanks for your decision to vote NO.
Thanks for ignoring 53.2% yes votes.
Thanks for making history and Giving 1981 Labour Gov that was right to stick to the costitution and ignore 50.8% and Your father was wrong. Thanks Thanks and really thanks from my deep heart.
Mr M Borg
Jun 5th 2011, 14:45
Agreed !
Thanks for voting No
Thanks for representing us No voters in parliament
Thanks for s howing us that your conscience is not up for sale.
Thanks for showing us that you are really your father's son.
John Borg Barthet
Jun 5th 2011, 22:51
@Mr M Borg - So would it be right if the divorce bill didn't pass or took long to get adopted in to Maltese Law because of people like these? Also consider that it is people like these that are trying to buy votes... from grannies.
Joseph Gerada
Jun 4th 2011, 21:21
Dear Beppe, I suggest that you do resign immediately since it is obvious that you got your role in parliament totally wrong! You are neither there to be consistent in your views on divorce, nor to be popular. Your mandate from the people is to represent the will of the majority in a Democracy which was, neither given to the people by the PN nor by the MLP, but was gained through decades of struggles of the Maltese nation! If it had to come down to allowing parliament to take a free vote after the referendum, then why exactly did we spend 4 million Euro (Yes - 4 million Euro when some people can't even afford to pay their electricity bills!) on a referendum? - of course, apart from for parliamentarians to avoid doing the dirty work which they are getting paid for (with a raise by the way!), that is!!
Kenneth Grima
Jun 4th 2011, 21:01
Ofcourse he and his family don't need divorce as whenever they needed annulments they had them right away. Not everybody can say that as the church wasn't so accomodating with others.
Schembri Ray
Jun 4th 2011, 20:45
I hope that this bill is approved by getting 54% of the members of the parliament. Doing so will truly reflect the expression of the people.
Joe Fenech
Jun 4th 2011, 20:13
You might not need it Beppe, but maybe others do....
Mr Johnny Xerri
Jun 5th 2011, 09:09
If its a case of 'like father...like son' then we are in trouble.
Just a quick reminder his father promised spring hunting would remain and that hunting in general would only improve after EU membership. This he promised not through a mass meeting but through official letters sent not from his private office but from Auberge de Castille.
So do the Fenech Adami clan who place themselves as stalwards of democracy and morality believe that marrage is a promise that is made for a life time. That once you promise in from of God and the other witnesses that you will be married until death do us apart...then that is what should happen...yet they believe its ok to promise one thing to hunters and then forget the promise they made...to steal the hunters votes...
Mela il kuxjenza insejta meta weghdtna l kacca fir rebbiegha...Mr Morality
Mr Angelo Vassallo
Jun 4th 2011, 20:05
@ Charlie Borg
Like father, like son! RAGEL FUQ L-IRGIEL BHAL MISSIERU. Jien hekk nahseb li ridt tghid hux Charlie Borg?
Mr Martin Saliba
Jun 5th 2011, 05:17
Ghandek ragun anglu , ragel u ihhob jahfer hafna ukoll !
Mr Jesmond Galea
Jun 5th 2011, 09:30
ta' principju!
Mr Ray Azzopardi
Jun 4th 2011, 20:01
like father like son ....in any sense.....
Mr saviour magro
Jun 4th 2011, 19:59
Those MP's who were against Divorce they already did there personal duty and (i imagine) voted no for divorce in last weeek referendum and now week after they are still considering how to vote in parliament it is very easy to decide, you must vote yes to recognize the people's choice.this is your obligation to do so, so please respect us and dont go backwards.I can't imagine this situation in the late 70's or biggining of 80's the maltese say "holl xaghrek u gib iz-zejt" min xaghrbu kielu il-bakaljaw viva l-ewropa.
Mr M Saliba
Jun 4th 2011, 19:41
The PN intends to please God and the devil at the same time. One Nationalist MP from every district will vote YES and others will vote No or abstain.
According to Beppe 'there will be a majority in favour of the introduction of divorce without the vote of those who feel strongly about not voting in favour'. He already knows how the other members are going to vote.
Shaun Azzopardi
Jun 4th 2011, 19:37
Voting yes would consistent with the duty of your job.
Voting no is inconsistent with that.
Mr Jo Camm
Jun 4th 2011, 20:34
Doesn't 'consistency' mean keeping your word?? If he said NO from the beginning he should go on saying NO till the end, whatever others say.
Ms Sabrina Borda
Jun 4th 2011, 19:33
The ex presidents son chooses to be consistent rather than popular. Hmmmm
Well he certainly is consistent as some people just never learn, and he is most certainly not popular so he has no worries there.
Albert Critien
Jun 4th 2011, 20:22
The people should have had the decency to go by God's wishes, then your comment would have been outf place
Ms Sabrina Borda
Jun 6th 2011, 01:46
My comment would remain valid just the same.
And ...if you so need to believe that God had anything to do with it, then obviously God's wishes were supporting the YES side of the referendum that's why it won.
Mr Martin Saliba
Jun 4th 2011, 19:16
You are bound to listen to the people not daddy .
Ms Marija Falzon
Jun 4th 2011, 18:13
So what will the Prime Minister do? will he be consistent or popular? if he chooses to be consistent and vote against a law his government will enact, will his position be tenable?
Mr Tommy Vella
Jun 5th 2011, 08:34
Of course it would be tenable. Why not? Because he is PM plus being MP?
Ms Rudi Mcbeal
Jun 4th 2011, 18:10
Well Done - so should the rest of you who do not agree with divorce - you'll probably be losing the elections anway, specially now, that all of a sudden the idea of modern liberalism seems to be attracting certain people, many of whom up to not so long ago where uttering the contrary with all their might. I am very curious to know if these same people will still rant and rave and argue till kingdom come (specially on internet, to make some propoganda), like they did before, and are doing now in favour of divorce, Deborah Schembri, JPO and la bella compania, should Malta introduces, for example, abortion, and the rest...
Mr Romeo Busuttil
Jun 4th 2011, 17:59
"I will vote No as I choose to be consistent rather than popular," Dr Fenech Adami told timesofmalta.com.
Being consistent or popular have nothing to do here and actually its the parliamentarians who will vote YES who will be consistent, with the people's decision. May I remind dr Fenech Adami and all the others (from both sides) who intend to vote NO that they were not elected to vote according to their personal conscience and religious beliefs. All members of parliament were elected to vote according to the will of the electorate, whether they personally like it or not and in this case the electorate spoke very clearly.
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
Jun 4th 2011, 18:40
This guy has no idea about democratice proccess. For heavens sake, why did we have a refurendum if this is at risk now of not going through!!!??? Then what everyone?? Hey?? For the sake of peace, family values and common sense, put presure on these guys to enact the wishes of our people...
Mr M Borg
Jun 4th 2011, 18:41
And maybe it would do you good to remember that this was not a " Binding " referendum but a consultative one.
All MPs are free to vote No if they so wish !!
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
Jun 4th 2011, 19:01
@Mr M Borg
Sir, do you think this is going away any time soon then do you? Because the REALY owkr Malta must do is provide services and family support and finincial security for the children. That is the real business of the community. Not wasting time if this does not go through now after all the hard work and emotional energy everyone has spent. MPs who care about our society, who really care about the quality of life for children and families...will either vote YES or ABSTAIN. A no vote is a vote for more civil action and protest to secture our civil rights as Maltese. Binding or not binding...it does really matter at this point - don't you get that? WAKE UP THE CAT IS NOW OUT OF THE BAG...You can not get it back in...and MPs shouldn't want to if they care about what is happening to children in Malta..
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jun 4th 2011, 19:09
@M Borg
"And maybe it would do you good to remember that this was a very expensive (4 million euro worth) referendum but a consultative one. Even a lawyer does not charge that much? just kidding Mr Lawyer. Who are you trying to kid Mr Borg? Ignorance is Bliss Mr Borg. Our government just shelled out 4 million euros for a useless consultation. Is that your answer Mr Borg? Even you don't believe that, or do you?
Mr M Borg
Jun 4th 2011, 19:43
@ Joseph Calleja
The 4 million Euro we have just spent on this " consiltative referendum " will seem like peanuts in a few year time, when we Maltese start counting the " benefits of this responsible divorce ".
Many have been brainwashed into thinking that divorce is needed for the common good of the island. Just give it two or three years and we will have the answer .I wonder how many will keep on thinking this way .
@ Rhonda Balzan Bastow
Are you still saying that divorce is a " civil right " It is not, you know , it is not even a basic right or a human right.
It is a human right to get married and form a family, it is not any sort of right to break that family !
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
Jun 5th 2011, 15:52
@Joseph Calleja
Dear Joseph,
It is a human right to get married and form a family, YES. But you are missing the reality here in Malta and every country in the world pretty much. Marriages break down.Divorce is just a civil - legal form of somthing that has ALREADY HAPPENED. That's what I mean. It is therefore civil right. You can't make marriages work. When it doesn't any more, it doesn't. No one, no one on earth, no one who ever gets married and especially has children wants or thinnks they will later divorce in my experience.
But what about the kids who are now being born outside of marriage, with no civil union? Bless the church and all, but when there is a marriage that is really finished people need a civl -legal way of closing that civil and legal relationship. Simple as that I am afraid. I don't think anyone divorces out of malice. It is the end legally of the marriage that has already collapsed.
The Catholic church is a whole different arean, and toeach his/her own.
Mark Galea
Jun 4th 2011, 17:50
How arrogant!! Our MPs are forgetting that as soon they enter the Parlament building they should always respect the will of the people. After they were not capable to take a decision, now they want to challenge the people's will.
Charlie Borg
Jun 4th 2011, 17:38
Like father, like son! Ifhmuha kif tridu.
Anthony Busuttil
Jun 4th 2011, 17:36
So The Honourable member he is not going to respect the wishes of the Maltese people including the Nationalist voters.
Mr Carmel Saliba
Jun 4th 2011, 17:31
53% voted in favour of the introduction of divorse while the others are against. Those who find it difficult to vote for this law should be allowed to do so. This is the real free vote for the members that was supposed given.
The members who find it difficult to vote in favour should inform their respective leader and if the number is less than 49% these should be allowed to do so.
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
Jun 4th 2011, 18:41
Those who find it difficult to vote for this law should be allowed TO ABSTAIN!!! NOTHING MORE...LOBBY OUR POLLIES NOW!! COMEON NEARLY THERE...
Mr Carmel Saliba
Jun 5th 2011, 02:25
Ms Rhonda Balzan Bastow
Not all the people voted in the CONSULTITIVE Referendum for the Yes team. Then the others - 47% should be also respected. Why those who find it difficult to vote for this law should ABSTAIN? This can never accepted in a Democratic country. The only duty is to pass the law.
Mr Joseph Calleja
Jun 4th 2011, 16:52
Dr Gonzi, why not get this bill passed, the sooner the better and avoid more controversy among the politicians who shunned this vote in the first place. The whole parliament was not responsible enough to vote on their own and spent a whopper 4million euros on a referendum so the people can tell them how to vote. Now that the people have spoken, why all the rhetoric? One question remains. As an elected official, do you respect the people of this land or not? It seems that some politicians don't give a damn what the people think and want. Let us pass this bill, the sooner the better so our politicians can move on to other things. Each and every politician has a job to do but some of them seem to be hung up on this divorce vote and in the meantime, maybe ignoring their other duties. For instance, maybe the infrastructure Minister can update us on the progress of the new Cirkewwa Ferry Terminal instead of preaching religion?
Julian Tonna
Jun 4th 2011, 16:49
mr F.Adami is not good for the maltese people.he should try is luck in the iran.where the goverment is always against the people.this is 2011 and not the 1990s time have changed .no vote for divorce no vote for Mr adami
Kevin Cauchi
Jun 4th 2011, 19:04
Divorce is legal in Iran LOL
J Debono
Jun 4th 2011, 23:30
@Kevin Cauchi LOOOOL!!!!
Mr albert cachia
Jun 5th 2011, 00:45
J. Tonna
Can't draft a comment, so how can pass judgement on IRAN.
Or mixed up Filfla with IRAN a huge country with expertize to built NUKS ?
David Farrugia Farrugia
Jun 4th 2011, 16:42
Do what you want, you are free to do so but some of your added comments about consistency and popular are unwarranted. Your colleagues are consistent too but with the people's ultimate wishes.
Ms Manquareiel de Caveden
Jun 4th 2011, 17:27
Exactly, they recognise they are there to represent the people and not 'their conscience'. (joker card word)
Mr Joe Gatt
Jun 5th 2011, 02:47
`your added comments about consistency and popularity`. You fail to mention `Respect for the Majority vote in faviour of the unfortunate souls who have to resort to it`
Respect, the majority vote, dear Dr Adami