The silence of the shepherds

Mr K.M Edwards

Jun 10th 2011, 16:45

Lou Bondi and the "yes" crowd are really missing the point.

MPs have every civic right and duty to vote according to their consciences, even if it goes against the consultative referndum majority. That's what a free society is all about.

Now before all the usual suspects start howling at me for defending free speech (and in parliament no less!) do consider that 52.67% did not vote actually just for divorce - a la the rest of the world - but for what in the words of JPO himself was described as "responsible" divorce. Those were the "yes" campaign's own words.

By responsible, they highlighted and emphasized that the divorce they were asking Maltese to vote on was:
1. One where there was a lack of reasonable hope of reconciliation
2. The children's welfare is safeguarded.

The consultative sent MPs a message that "responsible" divorce is worthy of consideration. How does the state define "lack of reasonable hope of reconciliation" in legal terms? What does the state assert that such a lack of reasonable hope is actually present in a divorce request? What is children's welfare exactly? How does the state define it? How will the legislation safeguard it?

I can even see "yes" MPs voting against this rushed bill that is being designed under the gun with no or very little attention to the details around what the "yes" side itself insisted was important - a "responsible" version of divorce.

If so, it should be most welcome for all people of good will in Malta, on both sides of the camp, to delve and ensure adequate legal definition and process around those "responsible" factors. Otherwise, one can see a split couple going through the courts for years to have the judges interpret whether a divorce is responsible or not.

Why are people so afraid of MPs maturely debating and turning down a bad bill if it needs re-working?

Free speech, especially in parliament, is something one would expect Maltese would espouse and fight for, particularly in light of Sette Gugno. Let your MPs speak their mind. Voting no to an imperfect bill does not necessarily translate to a disregard for the majority vote.

If both sides want a law that will be responsible, one has to realize that engineering projects, even social ones, are better planned well in advance. Imagine if this were a bridge that you need to drive over ... anyone with a brain would want it designed with all risks mitigated very well.

Take the time, do a good job, permit free speech and open debate in parliament. Don't guillotine MPs for speaking their conscience, you will really regret when you realize your MPs don't have one at all once they are forced to give it up.

Mr Anthony Pace Gouder

Jun 10th 2011, 14:47

Are YOU still stunned by the result,or what ?

The MINORITY voting NO was 46%. while 28% ie.90,000 persons did not care to obey the Bishops'Call by failing to cast their VOTE. Observers sustain that a higher turnout ,c.95%, would have RAISED the YES Majority to 60%+++++

Mr Raphael Vassallo

Jun 10th 2011, 14:44

To counterbalance all the lies and misinformation about secularism in comments below, this is from an editorial in the New Statesman, 18 September 2008:
"...there is no positive or negative secularism (laïcité in French). Secularism is neutral. It is neither a dogma nor a doctrine. If anything, it's an abstention. Secularism abstains from favouring one religion over another, or favouring atheism over religious belief. It is a political principle that aims at guaranteeing the largest possible coexistence of various freedoms.
"From a strictly legal perspective, secularism is extremely positive: it creates a universal freedom to believe or not to believe, and protects individuals from any public interference in their belief, provided that their belief or lack of it does not disturb the peace. As the philosopher Catherine Kintzler wrote in the French weekly Marianne: unlike religion, secularism creates freedom. What religion has ever recognised the rights to believe and not to believe? What religion has promoted the physical emancipation of women? What religion accepts what believers would deem to be blasphemous words?"

Gerry Cowie

Jun 9th 2011, 20:59

Malta is clearly not a secularist country neither does she wish to become so. The fact that a small minority voted in favour of divorce legislation does not make Malta secularist. Secularism must be resisted at all costs given the dangers it would bring if adopted totally.
The majority population of Malta is Roman Catholic. This is denied only by those who choose to try to sweep facts under the carpet when they do not suit them.
The religion of the majority will continue and it will colour all aspects of people's lives.
Long Live Catholic Malta!

Mr Joseph Calleja

Jun 9th 2011, 15:33

Lou, first of all as the Prime Minister and leader of this small country, Dr Gonzi should come out and declare openly that he is voting Yes for the divorce initiative. Why? Because he left that decision up to the people and the people voted and he should honour that final vote. There are always stragglers among the herd, those who do not give a damn about what the people want and think. There are those who are selfish and look out for themselves and are willing to sell their soul to the devil as long as they get their way. They will vote no or abstain as long as it satisfies their personal needs. They blame it on their conscience, what conscience? They stopped listening to their conscience when they dumped the whole ball of wax on the people of this nation, in the form of a 4million euro (unbinding) referendum. They sold their soul to the devil then, now they want it back? Well, I say to them Vote Yes and then go to confession and everything will be forgiven. The Prime Minister should come out and be honest with the people and declare himself as a Yes vote because the people said so. That is exactly what his conscience should be telling him and that goes for the rest of the self conscience politicians

Mr d. attard

Jun 9th 2011, 12:02

Nothing to say and saying it loudly...it is too obvious that the main political concern for the NP is to salavage at least a section of the liberal vote...yet they need not worry too much...a chunk of the so called liberal vote is tied to NP for economic reasons and they may not be too concerned if the NP is selling broad beans or mango. So let spin churn for it will all boil down to the marginal numbers to bring about a more humane malta where we can all live in relative harmony. We as a nation have failed to make this breakthrough since the 60's because of a light brigade of carreer minded people who had the intellectual capacity of a dodo and the ego and ambition of a regiment of napoleaons. The latest addition of this class has a savy sense of marketing but the intellectual capacity remains as wanting. What seems to be happening is that the required intellectual capacity may have started to be bred organically among the populance...interesting to see how this will come to change Malta for the better.

Mr William Flynn

Jun 9th 2011, 11:31

“those ministers and MPs who were going to do so should have had the decency to say so before the referendum”. They probably thought, why bother? In Malta? The church will carry us over the line and considered a “YES” win inconceivable in their arrogance.

And please, no more “conscience this and conscience that” This was a political calculation both by Dr Gonzi and the Three Amigos. It’s just that this time, it went pear shaped for them.

Mr Bondi, you’re right that the PM should vote “yes” or resign; and so should every other MP especially the cabinet. Which PM would vote “NO” in this situation and survive? He would be blatantly spitting in the eye of democracy.

As I have said before. In a seriously secular country, the PN would have had a party room spill first thing Monday morning, 30 May; and all positions declared vacant and up for grabs. By afternoon tea the PN would have come out with a brand new leader and cabinet.

That would have given them the best show for anything resembling credibility.

A week is a long time in politics; two an eternity. But the glue to their political coffin hasn’t cured yet; they might still be able to push it open and clean the mould.

Mr Tony Camilleri

Jun 9th 2011, 11:03

Lou, Gonzi one of the best Prime Ministers?
Well, I would think so if I were someone who has taken a program on the State Television on perpetual emphyteusis.

As an aside, if you think that KMB and CNI are moribonds you are greatly mistaken.
They are both being vindicates on whet they had said and the number of people who are turning against eu membership is constantly increasing not only in Malta but in every eu member country.
The day is not that far away when we shall leave the eu whatever the politicians say or try to do and apart from this both the euro and the eu are on the way out to be consigned forever to the dustbin of history to where they rightly belong.

Here are a few links for you to enjoy Lou.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/european-banks-not-rushing-help-greece-020742431.html
European banks not rushing to help Greece

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Germany-calls-for-Greek-bond-apf-582664429.html?x=0
Germany calls for Greek bond swap to gain time

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/eurozone-starts-talks-breakdown-cash-aid-greece-182332524.html#mwpphu-post-form
Eurozone starts talks on breakdown of cash aid for Greece

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/bank-ireland-bondholders-team-oppose-plan-192411828.htm
Bank of Ireland bondholders team up to oppose plan

http://it.finance.yahoo.com/notizie/Grecia-Merkel-Schaeuble-agixml-999828927.html?x=0#mwpphu-post-form
Grecia: Merkel e Schaeuble,Servono 90 Miliardi Entro Il 2014

http://euobserver.com/9/32456
Germany fears 'full-blown bankruptcy' in eurozone

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-13693875
Greece needs more aid, says Wolfgang Schaeuble

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,767371,00.html
Berlin Warns of Possible Greek Insolvency
German Finance Minister Calls for Athens Debt Restructuring

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0608/breaking46.html
Greece must meet targets - Rehn

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0608/breaking27.html?via=rel
Greek prime minister may face revolt

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0608/1224298571965.html?via=rel
Resistance to Greek austerity plan grows

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0608/1224298575505.html?via=rel
German finance minister admits Greek debt must be restructured

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2011/0608/1224298573931.html?via=rel
Reacting to a Greek tragedy

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0608/1224298574283.html?via=rel
Crisis in Greece may pose risks for Ireland

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/jun/08/german-finance-minister-calls-for-greek-debt-restructuring-as-condition-of-bailout
Germany wants private creditors to share burden of new Greek bailout

http://www.france24.com/en/20110608-eurozone-starts-talks-breakdown-cash-aid-greece#
Eurozone starts talks on breakdown of cash aid for Greece

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13693740
Greek Bail-out II - the backlash

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13686862
Ireland under the watchful eye of the IMF

http://it.finance.yahoo.com/notizie/Grecia-Schaeuble-c-Il-Serio-agixml-3666776211.html?x=0
Grecia: Schaeuble, c'e' Il Serio Rischio Di Un'Insolvenza

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/eu-imf-judge-greece-protests-swell-013521663.html

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/protesters-vow-stay-madrid-square-110056418.html

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/eu-racing-draft-second-greek-bailout-sources-112428711.html#mwpphu-post-form

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/timeline-greece-seeks-next-tranche-110-billion-euro-124348070.html

Charlie Borg

Jun 9th 2011, 10:19

Lou, oh, come on!!!!!! Laughable: 'of the best to wear them in recent political history.'
Malta must be going through a very, very bad patch in its 'recent political history'!

Hallina.

Joseph Debono

Jun 9th 2011, 10:11

Lou, you write:"I think I know why. Because for them faith and conscience are interchangeable." Isn't better to put the question to your audience to decide for example in such words as: Do you think that the concience of some parliamentarians and ministers is interchangeable with their faith? Yes or no? Then you will have that scientific reliability that characterizes all your contributions to our society.

Mr Albert Farrugia

Jun 9th 2011, 09:47

Great piece! The PM's problem when this whole thing started was that he tried to appease both the conservative as well as the liberal wing of his party. And, as usual in this scenario, he ended up pleasing none of them. Had Dr Gonzi agreed to have the Bill discussed in Parliament, it would most certainly have not passed, end if story. But then, he reasoned, that would alienate the liberal faction. The PN discussed the issue (though, it must be added, behind closed doors), and it could even have come out in favour. But that would have alienated the conservative faction. What to do? A referendum, of course. But he talked about a referendum when the idea was still half-baked. Which gave Joseph Muscat the opportunity to check the PM on the chessboard. A tough one, indeed.

Christian Sciberras

Jun 9th 2011, 09:28

It's all one huge comedy and Lou, from all people, knows this well enough....