Government and Opposition are still far away from a breakthrough on the cash-for-citizenship scheme, despite the Finance Minister’s surprising change of tone, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said.
“After 10 days of talks we’re still very far away from reaching an agreement,” Dr Busuttil told The Sunday Times of Malta.
The Nationalist leader appealed to the government to sit around a table and reach an agreement in the national interest, failing which the PN will consider pushing for a referendum.
The Office of the Prime Minister would not confirm details of the discussions taking place.
Dr Busuttil also revealed that the Opposition will explain its amendments to the Civil Unions Bill later this week.
The Bill will recognise same-sex partnerships and give them the same rights and duties as married couples, including inheritance, child adoption and social benefits.
Dr Busuttil said the PN will call on the government to send the matter of gay adoptions to Parliament’s family affairs committee to seek a social impact assessment before the matter is taken further.
“Bear in mind that today a gay person can already adopt. So the question is should a gay couple adopt and should this be sanctioned by legislation. I think that this aspect needs a proper social impact assessment before we legislate.
EACH CASE TO BE EXAMINED BY EXPERTS - PM
In a statement this morning, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat noted Dr Busuttil's statement on gay adoptions and said that the government's proposal was for each case was to be individually examined by psychological experts and social workers.
He said that he had made his position that children should always come first and foremost very clear before the election and former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had agreed. Both leaders had agreed that sexual orientation should not be a factor. So Dr Busuttil’s position today was a step backwards.
The Prime Minister said he consistently based his position on the principle of equality and Parliament had just legislated to include sexual discrimination in the Constitution.
He hoped that the Opposition would not allow its leader to take it to a more conservative position than that it previously had.
Watch excerpts from the interview in the video above. Read the full story and interview in The Sunday Times of Malta, the e-paper or on timesofmalta.com premium.