Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday slammed the media for “speculating”, through front-page articles, about the positions taken by the Nationalist Party on divorce.
His comments came three days after The Times carried a front-page story quoting PN sources, who spoke to this newspaper on Wednesday evening after a discussion within the party executive committee. They said a decision was taken, on Dr Gonzi’s suggestion, that the divorce Bill moved by Nationalist backbencher Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Labour MP Evarist Bartolo would be discussed throughout February, followed by a referendum in summer.
“I can’t stand these things. Before splashing a story on the front-page, I expect a journalist to call me and ask me for our position. But, so far, no one has bothered to call or if they did and got a reply they did not like the reply and tried to word it to suit their taste.”
Neither the government, nor the PN, have denied the item in question and questions sent the day after publication about the same topic to the Office of the Prime Minister remain unanswered.
On Wednesday evening, The Times also sent questions to the PN’s information office but no reply was forthcoming. Fresh questions sent on Thursday to see what was decided upon were met with a curt response from PN general secretary Paul Borg Olivier who said: “The discussion on divorce in the PN’s executive committee is not yet concluded. The PN will make an official statement on the matter once the discussion is concluded.”
Contacted yesterday to see whether the information about a summer referendum was incorrect, Dr Borg Olivier reiterated his position that details would be announced at a later stage after the discussion was concluded.
It is understood that, after having allowed everyone to express their opinions, the party will now take a stand, either in favour or against divorce, through a resolution being formulated.
Speaking in Gozo yesterday, Dr Gonzi said the party had a right to have its own opinion and form its own conscience on the matter but added that the position must “keep the door open” to those who “disagree with us”.
Dr Gonzi said the “very good” debates held so far within the party had left everyone to freely express their views and this would now lead the party to form a position and announce it publicly.
Dr Pullicino Orlando yesterday sent a letter to fellow members on the party’s executive committee urging them not to take a stand on divorce, in what appears to be a final push amid mounting pressure.
Sources said he enclosed a copy of the editorial of The Sunday Times which urged the PN to leave the matter to individual conscience rather than take a position that would cause more internal strife within the party.
Heavyweight Infrastructure and Transport Minister Austin Gatt said in an article on The Times last week he would resign from Parliament if the PN took a pro-divorce stance. Former leader Eddie Fenech Adami called for an anti-divorce stand to be taken.
Reacting to Dr Pullicino Orlando’s letter to executive committee members, Dr Gatt said the PN was not a party of convenience. It was “preposterous” to argue the party should not take a stand because it could be alienating a large segment of PN supporters who were genuinely in favour or against divorce for a number of reasons.
“We are not in politics because of the fear of losing votes. We are in politics because we believe that our ideas about society are right,” Dr Gatt said.
So far, only the newest and youngest member of the backbench, Karl Gouder, has supported Dr Pullicino Orlando’s call for divorce legislation.
Dr Gonzi yesterday took a swipe at the pro-divorce lobby, pointing out two Bills had already been withdrawn and a third had just been presented to Parliament.
Dr Pullicino Orlando said there were no changes in the third Bill. He said the Clerk of the House had asked for some “structural” changes and, in line with requirements, the third Bill also included a version in Maltese.