Opinion makers seem to agree that Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando did not adopt the right strategy to introduce divorce but many hope the move will provoke a more serious debate than ever before.
Pro-divorce lawyer and PN candidate Georg Sapiano said he did not believe "going behind the party's back" was the best way to secure introduction of this "right".
"At best, his solo flight will act as a catalyst for change. At worst, because of the way it has been done, it will simply harden PN opposition to this necessary reform but I sincerely hope not," he said, referring to the fact that Dr Pullicino Orlando did not tell the Prime Minister or the parliamentary group before surprising the nation with a Private Member's Bill on Tuesday.
Former Labour minister and columnist Lino Spiteri did not take a stand in favour or against divorce but pointed out that the "hullaballoo" created by the Bill was typical of Malta where MPs very rarely show personal initiative which deviates from the party line.
"It is not probable that the Bill will come to the vote but, if it does, MPs will no doubt tussle with their conscience as well as political considerations," he said, insisting the Nationalist backbencher had every right to use the facility given to him by law and present a Private Member's Bill.
Meanwhile, former Nationalist MP and founder of the now-defunct conservative party Azzjoni Nazzjonali, Josie Muscat, lambasted Dr Pullicino Orlando as "undisciplined" for not telling the party about his initiative. That put the PN in an embarrassing situation.
"It is true that the rate of separation is going up but we should analyse the problems leading to this. Only after addressing these problems should we then focus on solutions to those whose marriage has broken down irretrievably. A blanket divorce law will not solve our problems," Dr Muscat said, adding that pro-divorce people should be upfront about their marital status because their actions may be motivated by their own interests and not out of concern for other people.
University lecturer Mary Darmanin, who has been pro-divorce since the 1970s and had campaigned strongly for its introduction, said she would have preferred a Bill to be presented by a group of MPs from both sides of the House.
"These heroics don't impress me. We still haven't had a mature discussion since the PN and the Church mobilised people against divorce when Labour had set up its commission more than 10 years ago."
However, she said that if the Bill was a good one she hoped MPs would vote in favour because unhappy marriages and separations were much worse than divorces.
"My fear is that this way of doing things is too risky because, if it fails, we will delay the process even longer."
The founder of the Cana Movement, Mgr Charles Vella, who was quoted about his views on separation of Church and state in Dr Pullicino Orlando's press release announcing his initiative, said he was surprised to be quoted out of "text and content" by a politician.
"I do not wish to be exploited. I think it is good to debate the issue. However, the Church and state should play their proper roles. The Church stands for all that which was very rightly said by Archbishop Paul Cremona, whose words I fully embrace."
Which did not mean one could ignore the sorrows of those separated couples and their children.
"It is up to the state to defend and safeguard their rights while at the same time strengthening the human and spiritual values of the traditional Maltese family."
President George Abela, who has often spoken in favour of strengthening families and warned against excessive secularisation but avoided taking a stand on divorce, reiterated that he could not speak about the subject.
"I have to let the discussion happen," he said.
Any law approved by Parliament would have to be signed by the President before coming into force, even though this is deemed to be a mere formality.
Private Member's Bill
The law gives every MP the right to present a private motion or Bill for consideration in Parliament.
Thursday is normally the day reserved for MPs to present personal initiatives although parliamentary practice over the years has shown that this facility is rarely used.
Dr Pullicino Orlando's proposed Bill will be discussed when it is put on the agenda, which is dictated by the House Business Committee headed by the Speaker. In this committee, the government enjoys a majority. The Private Member's Bill can effectively be blocked by never being put on the agenda, similar to what had happened in 1996 when a similar divorce Bill was presented by former Labour MP Joe Brincat.