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A big majority has approved the Divorce Bill on Second Reading.

44 MPs out of a total of 69 voted in favour.

13 voted against and 12 abstained. There was applause when the result was read.

Only one minister and two parliamentary secretaries voted in favour. They were Health Minister Joseph Cassar and Parliamentary Secretaries Mario de Marco and Chris Said.

However another four members of the government abstained  - Tonio Fenech, George Pullicino, Mario Galea and Cyde Puli - meaning that the government members who voted against the bill were not in a majority.

The prime minister was among those who voted against.

On the Labour side, Adrian Vassallo voted against and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca abstained. All other Labour MPs voted in favour.

HOW THEY VOTED

In favour

PN: David Agius, Robert Arrigo, Joseph Cassar, Franco Debono, Mario de Marco, Joseph Falzon, Censu Galea, Michael Gonzi, Karl Gouder, Jesmond Mugliett, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Chris Said.

PL - Carmelo Abela, Chris Agius, Anthony Agius Decelis, Evarist Bartolo, Owen Bonnici, Leo Brincat, Stefan Buontempo, Charles Buhagiar, Luciano Busuttil, Chris Cardona, Justyne Caruana, Gino Cauchi, Helena Dalli, Joe Debono Grech, Michael Falzon, Anglu Farrugia, Michael Farrugia, Noel Farrugia, Roderick Galdes, Gavin Gulia, Jose' Herrera, Charles Mangion, Joe Mizzi, Joseph Muscat, Silvio Parnis, Marlene Pullicino, Anton Refalo, Joseph M Sammut, Alfred Sant, George Vella, Karmenu Vella, and Anthony Zammit.

Against

PN- Frederick Azzopardi, Jason Azzopardi, Tonio Borg, Giovanna Debono, Louis Deguara, Dolores Cristina, Beppe Fenech Adami, Austin Gatt, Lawrence Gonzi, Carm Mifsud Bonnici, Edwin Vassallo and Francis Zammit Dimech.

PL- Adrian Vassallo. 

Abstentions

PN - Francis Agius, Charlo Bonnici, Jean Pierre Farrugia, Tonio Fenech, Mario Galea, Peter Micallef, Philip Mifsud, Clyde Puli, George Pullicino, Stephen Spiteri and Ninu Zammit.

PL - Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

REACTIONS

Gonzi: The will of the people has been respected

Speaking after the vote, the Prime Minister said the will of the people had been respected. He said the two parties agreed on many of the amendments which would be moved to the Bill. He insisted, however that he would vote against the Bill as all stages since he was in principle against the introduction of  divorce.

Muscat: PM should be ashamed

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat  said the prime minister should be ashamed for having voted against the will of the people. He said that were it not for the PL, this bill would not have been observed. He said that MPs had a free vote. Asked specifically on Adrian Vassallo, the only Labour MP to vote against, he said he was free to choose his course of action, but every choice has its consequences. 

Deborah Schembri: Disappointed by those who voted against

Deborah Schembri, leader of the Divorce Movement, said she could not understand how some MPs had voted against the Bill when they had approved the holding of the referendum.

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando: Satisfied that will of the people has been respected

Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said he was satisfied that the absolute majority of MPs had voted Yes and thus observed the will of the people. He was also pleased at the large number of his colleagues in the PN had also followed the will of the people.

See also

PM says he will vote No on divorce in parliament

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110713/local/gonzi.375350

and

Pullicino Orlando calls for revision of Church-State agreement

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110713/local/pullicino-orlando.375356

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