So there we have it: Malta has voted to continue on the road to becoming an adult, secular state with those who wanted to impose their own morality on everyone else being told that, sorry, they can't.
Despite the best efforts of the least attractive elements of both camps, and there were plenty of unattractive traits shown, and those of the Curiae (Malta and Gozo) the electorate resoundingly voted in favour of secularisation. Contrary to the dearest hopes of many, the PM - unsurprisingly - rose to the occasion and was gracious in what for him was a disappointment (he did not flinch from expressing his personal view against divorce) Not for him the spins that will exercise some attraction to some mentalities, such as the fact that the win-percentage is not one that represents the majority of the electorate, which was the ludicrous argument that Sant had used to say we shouldn't join the EU. Those who like to crunch numbers have plenty of grist for their mills.
The result in particular districts will give plenty of people a number of hours of soul-searching. Gozo, for instance, will continue to give nightmares to the party strategists and his own district, which at the time of writing apparently said "no", might give Pullicino Orlando something to think about. On a broader level, the way the Curiae participated in the debate also needs analysis.
The response of the electorate to their overt eagerness to impose their views on divorce onto us should make them realise that there is a line between spiritual guidance and the arrogant assumption that they call the shots that shouldn't be crossed, even with tardy and absolutely mis-timed and ill-conceived apologies.
That said, I doubt Bishop Grech in Gozo will take the message on board. The MPs now have the ball in their court. We, the people, have voted, even though we shouldn't even have needed to. Now the law has to be drawn up and passed, responsibly and without filibustering.
It's not going to be easy, because the asked question actually leads us nowhere, but both sides of the House have to show good faith with us and respect to us the electorate. We expect you to do it, to do it right and to do it quickly. If you don't, just remember we'll be voting again pretty soon.