Malta's gay community is right to demand marriage equality and a bill being debated in parliament simply formalises the term 'marriage' for same-sex couples, Nationalist Party leader Simon Busuttil said. 

Speaking on NET TV, the PN leader defended his decision to push forward with party support for the marriage equality bill, saying the party "has to face today's social realities" and insisting the Civil Unions Act already granted the same rights and obligations as marriage. 

"When you go to a gay couple's civil union celebration, it's exactly the same as a wedding. It's a wedding - you don't leave saying 'I attended a civil union celebration. It's a celebration of love," Dr Busuttil said. 

READ: 200 gay marriages since Civil Union legislation

The PN leader has had to face rumblings of discontent from within his party's conservative wing concerning the vote. MPs such as David Agius and Clyde Puli have spoken critically of the bill in parliament, particularly with regard to the choice of wording, and former party heavyweights such as Tonio Fenech have openly said that backing the bill will lead to the party haemorrhaging votes. 

Dr Busuttil acknowledged the criticism - "we are aware that not everyone is in favour," - but argued that the LGBTIQ community had every right to demand equality before the law and that the PN's position in favour of marriage equality had already formed part of the party's electoral manifesto.  

"The PN must face these issues with maturity and intelligence," Dr Busuttil, who is due to make way for a new party leader in September, said.