The Nationalist Party is pledging to step up its efforts against all forms of discrimination, including gay people, through a new movement set up in the aftermath of recent amendments to its statute.
Addressing a news conference at the party headquarters in Pietà, PN leader Simon Busuttil announced the creation of the Moviment Opportunitajiet Indaqs, whose officials are yet to be elected.
Dr Busuttil was flanked by what he described as the “founding members” of this movement, who will be in charge of drafting its statute and holding the very first elections to choose the movement’s officials.
However, the party’s female movement – which was set up in the 1980s to promote gender equality – will not be disbanded, with the PN leader remarking that the decision was taken following an internal discussion.
Dr Busuttil also confirmed that the new movement will include gay rights activists.
Probed about the petition to force a referendum on the Civil Unions Bill announced earlier this week, the PN leader said it was premature to comment as the number of signatures gathered were still far below the required amount.
Dr Busuttil said that throughout its history the party had fought to safeguard human rights and freedom but he remarked that in this day and age, discrimination was taking a more subtle and complex form.
He said that one of the first moves of the party after entering Opposition was tabling a private member’s Bill to entrench a clause in the Constitution against sexual discrimination.
The movement will have statutory rights and will be represented in the party’s structures, including the executive committee and the administrative council.
The founding members of the movement are Joanna Agius, Sabine Agius Cabourdin, Jacqueline Azzopardi, Frederick Bezzina, Charlene Camilleri Zarb, Anna Cassar, Jeanine Giglio, Graziella Schembri and Franco Vella.
In a statement, the Labour Party said that it was rather ironic that the PN was launching this movement when at the same time it was not backing the Civil Unions Bill.