AD ‘appalled’ at Labour’s intention to amend divorce bill

AD has said that it was “shocked” by reports of a Labour decision to propose a fault-based property and asset separation in all divorce proceedings.

The Green Party was reacting to claims by sources that the Opposition intends to table amendments to the divorce bill in parliament, which will start being discussed in the House today.

Reportedly, the PL also intends to propose amendments to tighten the bill’s clause on couples’ eligibility for filing for divorce. AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said: “If it is true that Labour shall make such a proposal, it is simply unbelievable that the so-called progressive Labour Party is proposing a fault-based divorce, which has been removed in other democracies.”

According to Briguglio, a fault-based divorce result in unnecessary traumas and hardships on adults and children in courts. “Rather than having compulsory fault-based divorces on issues related to assets and property, as proposed by Labour, it should be up to couples themselves to decide whether they should take this to court,” he said.

Briguglio added that otherwise there shall be “compulsory lengthy and costly court procedures even when not required.”

AD called on Labour MP Evarist Bartolo and Labour candidate Deborah Schembri, both former members of the divorce lobby, to identify their position on this issue.

AD spokesperson for civil rights Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer said that the Labour stand comes after an “opportunistic decision” not to take a stand on the divorce issue prior to the referendum… “as is the case with some PN and PL members of parliament who will abstain or vote against the introduction of divorce, Labour is simply taking democracy for a ride”.

Meanwhile, the Labour Party has issued a statement saying that the main principles of the divorce bill and those relating to the no fault divorce will not be touched.