"If the party wants to kick me out... I really don't care"

– Adrian Vassallo

Divorce legislation is expected to be approved by Parliament in the coming weeks but an increasing number of MPs from both sides of the House are refusing to back the Bill, which was yesterday given a smooth first reading.

Staunchly conservative Labour MP Adrian Vassallo stood by his declared position and insisted he would vote against the Bill despite the positive public vote at Saturday's referendum.

His colleague, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, will abstain. A number of Nationalist MPs are expected to do the same, which would enable the Bill to be approved without their help or obstruction.

The so-called "Divorce Bill" was unanimously given a first reading during yesterday evening's sitting of Parliament – 24 hours after Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi laid on the Table of the House the official result of the referendum. The Private Member's Bill, officially known as the Civil Code (Amendment) Bill, was moved by Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and seconded by Labour MP Evarist Bartolo. The approval of the motion took barely 30 seconds.

The first reading is Parliament's authorisation for the publication of the Bill in the Government Gazette. The government will now decide a date when the principles of the Bill will be debated at the second reading stage, followed by the committee stage, when each clause of the Bill will be discussed.

The final vote will be taken in the third reading.

When contacted yesterday, Dr Vassallo declared he would vote against. He defended his position saying the referendum was consultative.

Even though he signed Labour's motion to hold a referendum, he said he had made sure the motion did not specify that MPs would have to respect the result of the referendum.

"I refused to sign the first draft of the motion because it said we will have to ' respect' the outcome of the referendum. I made sure we change the wording to say we will ' note' the result," the outspoken MP said.

He said he could never approve something which in his opinion would weaken marriage. "If the people want gay marriages, I will vote against, because I think it also weakens the institution of marriage."

He referred to Labour leader Joseph Muscat's statement that even if he were the last man standing he would continue being in favour of divorce.

"(Dr Muscat) repeated my words. I've always said I will be the last man standing against divorce. The only way I will deviate from my position is if Jesus Christ asks me to. But He didn't and he won't."

Dr Vassallo said he only represented his constituents in the ninth district and would vote on behalf of the thousands of constituents who voted against divorce.

"If the party wants to kick me out they can kick me out. I really don't care," he said defiantly, adding he had always been crystal clear about his views.

Meanwhile, Ms Coleiro Preca said she would abstain from the vote after having ensured the Bill would still be approved in Parliament.

She said the will of the majority had to be respected but the referendum result showed there was a substantial minority that remained against the introduction of divorce, including many Labourites.

Ms Coleiro Preca said she would take part in the debate and raise a number of issues to try and diminish the harm brought about by divorce. Dr Muscat appointed her to form part of a small group of MPs working towards this end, she added.

She lashed out at those who commented about her private life, saying her family and she were " threatened, slandered and intimidated" over her stand. This undermined Dr Muscat's attempts at building a welcoming Labour Party, she added.

Another Labour MP who had spoken against divorce, Carmelo Abela, said on Monday he would respect the will of the people and vote in favour.

Nationalist MPs are divided on how to vote.

Pro-divorce MPs Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, Jesmond Mugliett and Karl Gouder have declared they would vote in favour.

A number of other MPs, including Ċensu Galea, David Agius, Franco Debono, Joe Falzon, Jean-Pierre Farrugia, Robert Arrigo and Mario de Marco, have indicated they want to do so too. However, sources say many of them are awaiting direction from the party or the Prime Minister because they did not want to be seen as being disloyal to the party's stand. Nor did they want to be the only ones to look bad with their antidivorce constituents.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has so far only said he would not exclude voting against or abstaining. However, he stressed that the will of the majority must prevail.

Meanwhile, a number of backbenchers and Cabinet members have said they would vote against, including Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, or at the very least abstain, like Stephen Spiteri.

Charlò Bonnici yesterday said he would abstain because of his conscience but would rethink his position if it became necessary to let the will of the people prevail.

Speaking on One TV last night, Joseph Muscat said the Prime Minister must act as the head of the Executive not as the head of a confessional party. Therefore, he only had one choice: to vote yes.

He said MPs should respect the decision of the majority so they should either vote Yes or abstain. But Dr Gonzi is not just any MP.

Dr Muscat said Dr Gonzi had painted his party into a corner by taking a stand on divorce that was not in line with the will of the people. His position was now similar to the one the Labour Party was in when it was against EU membership – which went against the majority's wishes. The PN must, therefore, now change its stand.

He said that the law was only going to be approved because of the Labour Party, ensuring that a majority vote in favour.