The cross-party agreement on changes to the divorce Bill reached during the committee stage in Parliament reflects the objective to draft the best possible law, according to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

However, when contacted, Dr Gonzi declined to say whether the agreement addressed and eliminated the concerns he had raised about the guarantee for adequate maintenance.

The Prime Minister had voted against the divorce Bill in the second reading – arguing it was not possible to change the law in a way as to satisfy the requirement outlined in the referendum question to guarantee adequate maintenance.

When asked whether Nationalist MPs would be requested to take a particular line on the amended divorce Bill, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “Government MPs have been granted a free vote since day one.”

The spokesman reiterated the statement Dr Gonzi made soon after the divorce referendum result was out in May, that the will of the majority had to be carried out while respecting the conscience of those members of Parliament for whom it is not possible to approve such legislation and therefore they will have to abstain or vote against.

The spokesman said Dr Gonzi had always been consistent on the issue of divorce legislation, pointing out that on May 29 he had said it was Parliament’s responsibility to respect the people’s will.

At the time, Dr Gonzi had said it was Parliament’s duty to carry out the people’s will and draft divorce legislation, which was not an easy process.

“This is the spirit with which the Prime Minister and government MPs have treated divorce legislation, during all stages of the parliamentary process, including in the committee stage which has just come to an end.

The objective set before all MPs was that of drafting the best possible law and the agreement reflects this objective,” the spokesman said.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com