The Nationalist Party's executive council will be meeting on Thursday to discuss the divorce issue, among other things, in the wake of a Private Member's Bill presented by MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

This is the first such discussion on divorce in one of the PN's highest organs. According to sources, it would not have taken place had the Private Member's Bill not been presented.

Apart from the executive members elected by the general council, all MPs are entitled to attend executive council meetings but only a few have the right to vote.

The Prime Minister had said the party would be discussing divorce internally after a hastily convened parliamentary group meeting on July 7, just 24 hours after Dr Pullicino Orlando had submitted his Bill.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has expressed himself against divorce and after the meeting he insisted that such a decision is best left to the electorate without specifying whether this meant a referendum or general election.

Dr Pullicino Orlando has gone on record saying he wants the Bill to be discussed in Parliament by January.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com

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