Gender Identity Bill passed without division.About 20 Nationalist MPs were not present for the final vote on the Gender Identity Bill but a spokesman insists this is the case for most parliamentary votes and not a reflection of the party stand.
The poor attendance by the Opposition for the approval of the landmark legislation raised eyebrows on Wednesday evening, as it had been touted as an opportunity to make up for the PN abstaining on the Civil Unions Bill last year.
The abstention saw the party criticised by the gay rights lobby, and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil eventually conceded he would act differently if he could retake the decision.
Dr Busuttil was among several Opposition MPs, including social solidarity spokesman Clyde Puli, absent for the final vote.
The party spokesman said he could not understand why “certain sectors of the media” were creating an issue which was “non-existent” after daily newspaper l-Orizzont carried a story that the absence had disappointed the LGBTI community.
The spokesman insisted that the Opposition was in favour of the Bill and had been proactive in drafting it from its inception.
He said Opposition Whip David Agius had informed all Nationalist MPs that the Bill would be passed nem con (all in favour).
The Opposition is in favour of the Bill and was proactive in drafting it from its inception
“The Gender Identity Bill is one of many laws that have been passed without division or controversy,” he said, adding that any perceived controversy over MP attendance was a “mountain being made out of a molehill”.
The PN spokesman noted that, apart from voting on the third reading of the Gender Identity Bill, another vote was taken on a draft law related to the recognition of sign language, for which Joseph Muscat and the majority of the government’s Parliamentary group was not present. This, he added, surely did not mean that the government had some form of reservations against the deaf. “The Opposition does not resort to such petty tactics of attacking the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malta Gay Rights Movement head Gabi Calleja said the vote enjoyed unanimous approval and, therefore, did not require individual voting.
She would not comment on what message attendance or absence sent to the public, adding that “of course, their presence in Parliament when the vote was taken would have been welcomed as was the turnout of the Labour Party MPs.”
All government MPs were present for the final vote except for Education Minister Evarist Bartolo, who was “unavailable”, and Gozo Minister Anton Refalo, who was ill.
Ms Calleja was quick to add that a number of Nationalist MPs, including Dr Busuttil, Beppe Fenech Adami and Mr Puli attended a celebratory reception hosted by MGRM on that night as did the Prime Minister and Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli.