Gift of Life yesterday welcomed Labour leader Joseph Muscat’s stand against abortion but asked for party candidate Yana Mintoff Bland to clarify her position after she took an equivocal stand in a Sunday Times interview.

We . . . concur that debate is always healthy

Dr Mintoff Bland, the daughter of former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, described abortion as a “big debate” and said she believed in a “good discussion” based on facts and balance.

“We welcome the stand taken by Dr Muscat and concur that debate is always healthy. We are pleased that he and the Labour Party view debate as an opportunity to strengthen pro-life values in Malta,” the spokesman for the anti-abortion group Paul Vincenti said.

“Our understanding of a healthy debate is, however, based upon the concept of a mature, objective, balanced, non-political discussion,” he added, saying it was unclear what platform Dr Mintoff Bland would expect for such a debate if elected to Parliament.

“We are therefore requesting Dr Mintoff Bland to clearly declare whether she is pro-life, in favour of abortion, the choice for abortion, or for abortion in restricted circumstances. The public have a right to be informed about the views of those candidates who will be asking for their support in the future.”

He said a clarification was even more pertinent considering an MP could table a Private Member’s Bill, as was their right.

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