Paul Borg Olivier, General Secretary of the Nationalist Party, this evening declared himself against the introduction of divorce.

He said it would be irresponsible if the PN, and, indeed, all political parties, did not take a position on fundamental issues such as this.

He said the party would take a position on this issue but would not be telling its members how to vote in a referendum. Nationalist MPs would have a free vote in Parliament.

Dr Borg Olivier was speaking on Dissett on PBS.

He said the discussion in five meetings of the party executive committee had been mature and intense. A majority had been against divorce, but it was healthy that there were diverse views.

He, however, absolutely did not agree with the way how Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando had filed his private member's bill in Parliament, without first consulting the party which he forms part of.

Dr Borg Olivier said the party made a clear distinction between the state and the church.

He said the party would also discuss other issues such as IVF, and in this case too, it would be irresponsible if the party did not take a position.

But in taking such positions, the party would be committing a serious mistake if it excluded those who had different opinions.

MINISTERS' PAY

Dr Borg Olivier admitted that the controversy over ministers' pay had damaged the party. He said the party had known about the pay given to ministers and agreed that they should receive a ministerial pay and their honoraria as MPs, because the two were different. The party had known, just as Labour had known, Dr Borg Olivier said.

He said that while some were claiming that there was insensitivity, what was insensitive he said, was how the Labour leader in 2009 requested €7 million in state funding of political parties.

JOHN DALLI

On criticism of the Nationalist Party made by John Dalli, Dr Borg Olivier insisted that the party was not excluding anyone, including Mr Dalli, who had attended some of its conferences. The party's commitment remained to engage with society. The slogan GonziPN had to be seen within the rest of the slogan IVA Flimkien kollox possibli.

Dr Borg Olivier said MPs were free to meet anyone, including Mr Dalli.