No action will be taken against Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo after he defied his party whip and voted against the Marriage Equality Bill, the PN announced yesterday.
In a statement, the party said that its leader, Simon Busuttil, and the executive committee had agreed that no action would be taken on the matter.
Mr Vassallo last month voted against a controversial law ushering in marriage equality for same-sex couples, citing his “moral convictions”.
He was the only MP out of 67 to vote against the Bill at both the second and third readings in the House.
READ: Marriage equality Bill is 'morally unacceptable', says Vassallo
The former Mosta mayor unsuccessfully campaigned for a free vote within the PN parliamentary group and insisted that on matters of conscience and morality, legislators should not be put in a straightjacket and forced to toe the party line.
The important thing isn’t the fact that one deputy voted against but the great leap forward the PN made in favour of equality
He justified his objections to the law on grounds that it went beyond the government’s mandate to introduce same-sex marriage, adding it would pave the way for surrogacy and gamete donation – two issues that he felt crossed the line.
An online petition supporting Mr Vassallo’s stand attracted more than 700 signatures in the days that followed the vote, as whispers spread in PN circles that he would be reprimanded.
READ: Edwin Vassallo is still waiting for 'punishment'
In yesterday’s statement, Dr Busuttil called for unity above punishment.
“We should focus on the important matters. The important thing here isn’t the fact that one deputy voted against but the great leap forward the Nationalist Party made in favour of equality in our country,” the outgoing PN leader said.
He said he was proud to have brought the party to a position where it made such an important step forward.
“However, I understand that it was a difficult step for some individuals.
“This decision is now over, and we must look forward, focusing on unity and not on which steps are going to be taken against one or another,” he said.