Backroom plot to ‘sink’ divorce referendum

A ‘promised’ referendum that would ask the electorate to decide on introducing divorce in Malta, risks not being called at all as anti-divorce MPs are reportedly preparing to vote down the proposed private members’ bill by calling a division as soon as it comes up for discussion.

At least four MPs from both sides of the House are said to be behind a manoeuvre that would basically bury any prospect of having the electorate decide on divorce.

While both parties are calculating their parliamentary numbers in a bid to establish whether or not there exists a pro-divorce majority in the House, the scenario of a no-referendum has already been spelt out to Prime Minister and PN leader Lawrence Gonzi over the past few days.

Gonzi – who declared that he will forward the divorce question to the electorate as the issue is “too big” for MPs to decide on ­­– is said to be against such a move, warning that the collateral damage would be devastating for the homogeneity of the party.

Close aides have already worked out the plan, by assuring the Prime Minister that a call for a division in the House on the Pullicino Orlando-Bartolo bill, will “certainly not come from within the PN benches” but from a Labour MP.

Contacted by MaltaToday, Labour MP Adrian Vassallo admitted that he has been approached by “government MPs” but denied involvement in any backroom manoeuvres.

Vassallo stressed that he finds a debate in parliament on the issue of divorce to be “ridiculous” and a “waste of time” given that “most MPs have already declared their position and said a lot, if not too much.”

He rebutted rumours within the Labour camp that he may be ‘plotting’ to call for a division, stressing: “I would prefer a referendum rather than a debate because that surely would be binding”.

He added that he “agrees 100% with minister Austin Gatt’s position (against divorce), as it is a fundamental matter for the wellbeing of our society. Divorce damages our families.”

“All Malta knows my position and I don’t need to repeat it, and I will certainly not be a hypocrite by perhaps being expected to change my position, if the debate is suspended half way and a referendum approves the introduction of divorce.”

He added: “I am being crystal clear here, that I am loyal to my principles, perhaps more than certain colleagues of mine who first come out against divorce and suddenly change their position. I call these people traitors [gakbini].”

“When it comes to these matters, I trust myself only,” Adrian Vassallo said, adding that he knows that his position enjoys more support on the PN benches rather than from Labour.

Meanwhile, PN strategists believe that the House could produce a majority against divorce, and should a situation unfold whereby a Labour MP would call for a division, it would pounce on the opportunity to blame Labour for having shelved the entire divorce debate and a referendum at the same time.

In political terms, such a move would lead staunch anti-divorce campaigners like Minister Austin Gatt to regain lost sympathy with core PN voters, who may prize him for his determined stand, but most importantly it could rehabilitate his standing inside the PN, by having ‘saved’ Lawrence Gonzi from having to introduce divorce on his watch as Prime Minister.

To compensate for this, government has a Cohabitation Bill ready up its sleeve that would be presented to parliament almost contemporaneously in a bid to ‘appease’ the liberal faction inside the party.

Austin Gatt did not return any replies to MaltaToday’s questions on whether he would call for a vote on the proposed bill rather than leave the debate unfold.

But while the Opposition would take the brunt of the PN’s media onslaught, observers say that Labour leader Joseph Muscat – who has personally declared himself in favour of divorce but refuses to have his party take a stand on the issue - may turn the situation around by putting divorce as a key point in his electoral manifesto.

Asked last night to express his views, Muscat told MaltaToday: “everyone is waiting for the Prime Minister to make what is already an overdue public announcement on the roadmap he intends to follow.”