Divorce referendum ‘not political’ - Gonzi

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi sees “nothing wrong” with a veteran civil servant and deputy secretary to the Cabinet of Ministers taking a front seat role with the ‘No’ lobby in the divorce referendum campaign.

Speaking during a press conference dealing with an overview of the Government’s performance over the past three years, Gonzi said that Frans Borg’s leave of absence ahead of the referendum is not in breach of the public service code of conduct.

Earlier this month, MaltaToday reported that Frans Borg, formerly Permanent Secretary in the Social Policy Ministry, has taken two months’ vacation leave ahead of the referendum, at a time when he is also formally militating within the campaign lobby group Zwieg Bla Divorzju.

Gonzi said that the referendum campaign “is not an electoral campaign” and that “we are trying to encourage people to participate in the campaign, and not deny them from doing this.”

He categorically maintained that Borg’s participation within the divorce debate in a direct manner does not constitute a breach of public service ethics, which however spells out that:

“It is of the utmost importance that Ministerial and public confidence in the impartiality of the Public Service shall not be impaired in any way. For this reason, activity in the political field, legitimately open to the ordinary citizen, is not considered compatible with the holding of certain posts in the Public Service.” (Section 2 of the code, updated January 2011)

Gonzi confirmed that the leave was applied for and granted through the proper channels.

However, directives issued by the Broadcasting Authority have imposed particular directives on local broadcasters with regard to the coverage they provide to the divorce debate and referendum. In its directives, the Broadcasting Authority considered the debate a political one and applied directives that usually are invoked during a political campaign.

Frans Borg has represented this lobby in formal meetings with the Broadcasting Authority, and has also signed correspondence on behalf of a group which is officially campaigning for a ‘No’ vote in the May 28 referendum.

Dr Godwin Grima, head of the Civil service and author of the above mentioned amendments to the code, also saw no contradiction between Borg’s involvement in the referendum campaign, and his role as deputy secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers (among other prominent public service positions).

“The introduction of divorce in Malta is not considered to be of a party political nature,” Dr Grima told MaltaToday.

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I think that it was EFA who politicised the whole divorce issue! How dare he comes forward to tell us what to do?? He should remember that only few people are privileged with the church, and he was one of them. I can't imagine a family with more than 1 member who obtains annulments in a very short time. Maybe EFA should be honest for ONCE in his entire life and tell us how his relatives obtained annulment in such a short time!! i admire the US administration for cracking down diplomats who instead of using their resources towards the state, they use it towards their religious beliefs!! I just wonder if the PN will copy the Americans on this!!!!
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Luke Camilleri
Jkompli jdahhaq Il-Gonz! Mhux hu ghamilha "POLITIKA" is-sitwazzjoni bil-piki u tilwim li ghandhu mal-MPs teighu fosthom JPO, li ma jridc jahfirilhu tad-disco tal-Mistra, telgha minn zewg distreeti u baqa' bla Ministeru? . Kieku baghtlu SMS Gonzi, kif jaghmel biex jahtar il-Ministri tieghu, kieku........
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The establishment and it's satellite power cells are working overtime to try and deliver some impetus to the Movement Against Divorce (MAD). The biggest problem I see is that the divorce issue is causing a fire in the PN engine room. Even if MAD win, it will only cement the demise of the party. Surely I imagined the PM had enough grey matter to understand this...but from today statements I am starting to have my doubt. Is he really in denial?
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Alas i don't agree with the PM here. This has been made a political issue from the very start. The Church has always had a finger on the political button of this country and its not going to change that now.Here we have a civil issue which has nothing to do with religion but had to be referred to the people for a verdict instead of Parliament. Moreover to ensure that the motion does not get through certain members of Parliament have already indicated that they will not vote for divorce even if it goes against the people's wishes. Some democracy!!! But life goes on. One day when different faiths are on par with each other in this country we might have big changes sweeping our way.
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With Gonzi, you cannot tell his ass from his mouth. Divorce is not a political issue? Is Gonzi or drugs or such a pathological lier he cannot stop himself from denying the obvious? What an idiot!
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Of course there is no contradiction, as long as the Prime Minister says so ! He is a holy man. And he has been sent to us by God Himself. E' l'uomo mandato da Dio !!!!!!!!!!
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This is known as wanting (to have) the cake and wanting to eat it ...
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It COULD have been non-partisan - the motion was jointly presented by a member from each side of the house. . Unfortunately what happened next is that Gonzi tried to eviscerate the referendum question, and PN took an explicit stand against it. . How can he now say it's not political? Oh wait, I see, it's just an excuse to skirt the law that prohibits what the NO movement is doing. For a second I thought that he really meant it.
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Is it leave with pay or without pay ? I cannot accept that people want to impose their will on others; who am i to deny a person a second chance at marriage; on the otherhand divorce is not imposed on happily married couples; religion does not come into it; in fact the church has conveniently made rules that allow priests to leave the priesthood & marry
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Keith Goodlip
I don't think Gonzi listens to what he says any more.
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Luke Camilleri
Our Prime Minister sure has a sense of humour with such statements!
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duncan abela
In theory there is nothing wrong in senior civil servants rooting for a cause they believe in and which in the normal course of events falls outside their public duties and responsibilities. However in practice we constantly note the way that in this land of ours when you probe into te current ruling administration you often find that important public offices and senior positions in public funded bodies through often not mere coincidence are related to membership and belonging to certain religious institutions such as the Catholic action, Opus Dei and similar laity membership or connections to certain intellectual religious orders. This inevitably and implicitly gives a political tinge to what should be apolitical issues like divorce. Much milder statements of a religious nature made by the local American ambassador soon put him in an untenable position with the american state department and pushed him to resign. The current divorce issue hopefully makes more of our citizenry vigilant and understand etter the unwelcome ever present and continuing close connection between the local church and government . A Liberal and truly free society cannot be established until we break this link which is in conflict with our newly acquired european liberal values .
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I was not going to write like I said. But just I write this so Gonzi Spies will inform the party about the people's sayings. You speak thinking that you will make fool of all the maltese people? I don't think that the majority of the maltese people belive you anymore. I swear that I will vote against The PN this time, the PN is in goverment for about 25 years, so they have changed into so much, Who is in goverment comands, so it's all in vain we speak. The thing that disgust me the most is the goverment is mirroring the church. My mother and father ages 80 and 84 wil vote yes in the referendum too. I don't think a vote to yes wil ruin any marriage, you are all liars. THE PEOPLE HAVE 2 CHOICES" RESIST OR SERVE!"
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As if in Malta any debate could not be political? The PN took a stance, therefore it is political. What definition is Gonzi now going to attach to the word 'political'? This man treats Malta with contempt. Fools for electing such a clown as PM and the Maltese living in Malta deserve all they get for falling for a party that is indecent and unprincipled to the bloody core. Perhaps it is a religious issue? Or a philosophical one?
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For all to know, Mr Frans Borg besides being brother of the famous (!) Fr Joe Borg, is also cousin to Dr Godwin Grima Principal Permanent Secretary and Head of Civil Service. All in the family cos !!!
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Luke Camilleri
Divorce referendum ‘not political’ - Gonzi - If it was not "Political" as it has been made to be, why has the Nationalist Party / Gonzipn has professed itself on the issue as a POLITICAL PARTY? Min qieghed jithaq b'min? Why can't Malta be like any other country and have RIGHTS for it's citizens and not COMMANDMENDS, be scular and respect the needs of all its citizens ?
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'Eppure si muove''!
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"Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has declared that government “was not considering” state funding of political parties, and indicated that a draft report on the matter prepared by PN MP Franco Debono was compiled the recommendations of the 1995 Galdes Report in 1995." . Whilst this matter is a very delicate issue I would not be surprised that gonziPN would be against state funding of political parties since gonziPN is well greased by all those sharks that feast at all governmental fat tenders of millions and thousands of euros. After all multi millionaire Zaren has gone on record saying that he does support the gonziPN.
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@fellus Exactly , I agree 10000% it is unbelievable that a person holding the office of Prime Minister could come up with such silly,thick and dense arguments.
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Dr Gonzi and the PN made the divorce referendum a political issue when the PN took an official stand in the matter. He cannot now say that it is not a political matter and expect to be taken seriously.