Former Health Minister Louis Deguara declared yesterday he would vote against the divorce Bill on second reading as he wanted to be loyal to his constituents and because he had always insisted divorce did not solve the problems of couples whose marriage was breaking down.

He was speaking in Parliament as the debate on the introduction of divorce kicked off, a year after Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando surprised everyone by presenting a Private Member’s Bill on the issue, which led to the referendum in May.

Dr Deguara also announced he would not seek re-election.

Introducing the Bill, Dr Pullicino Orlando insisted the no-fault concept had to be retained in the Bill. Those who had voted in favour of divorce had given those whose marriage had broken down the opportunity to remarry rather than live in cohabitation. He said it would be a mistake if anyone now tried to go against the spirit of what the people had approved in the referendum.

The other co-sponsor of the Bill, Evarist Bartolo (Labour) said legislation should not be altered in a way that went against the word and the spirit of the referendum question. The main principles were the four-year separation period before eligibility for divorce, the assurance that there was no possible reconciliation, guarantees of maintenance and the concept of no-fault divorce.