The prime mover of the divorce law, Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, has taken advantage of the new legislation to file for the dissolution of his marriage to his estranged wife, Marlene, a Labour MP.

Mrs Pullicino Orlando, who told the Family Court she did not object to the divorce, has asked to revert to her maiden surname of Farrugia when the decree is given.

The case will be heard on November 10.

Dr Pullicino Orlando had changed the political and social landscape when he co-presented a Private Member’s Bill on divorce in Parliament with Labour MP Evarist Bartolo. Divorce legislation came into force on October 1 after a referendum was held in May.

According to the new law, only couples who have lived apart or have been separated for four years in the past five can apply for divorce.

Until the end of last month, 92 applications for divorce had been filed since the legislation came into force.

Mrs Pullicino Orlando had in the past opposed the introduction of divorce but later changed her mind. Last year, she said that she had even proposed to co-sponsor the Bill with her husband.

During the often acrimonious divorce campaign, Dr Pullicino Orlando had announced he was planning to obtain a divorce from the UK if divorce were to be rejected by the Maltese.