While listening to some of my parliamentary colleagues on the government side speaking on the Opposition’s motion on the referendum question, I could not help coming to the conclusion that the government is not prepared to accept the people’s verdict if the majority of the people say ‘yes’ to the referendum question as unanimously proposed by the Labour opposition, which now has been approved by 36 votes to 33 in Parliament.

During the debate on the motion, some government MPs declared that unless the referendum question is a straight-forward ‘Do you agree with the introduction of divorce?’ – a blank cheque – they will still vote against the proposed divorce bill in Parliament, even if the majority of voters approve the introduction of the civil right of divorce within the parameters listed in the referendum question.

By taking such an undemocratic stand – after saying that the people should decide in a referendum – Nationalist MPs are saying that they neither respect the authority of Parliament in deciding the question to be put to votes, nor do they respect the will of the people, if they insist on voting against the people’s wishes.

What a sad day that would be for those who truly believe in parliamentary democracy as representing the people’s will!