Divorce bill may keep MPs busy till August

Last week, a House Business Committee meeting established that parliament will start to debate the divorce bill on 4 July, and will continue until 13 July, when a vote will be taken to close the second reading of the bill.

Following this vote, the House is set to discuss the clauses within the House Committee for the Consideration of Bills.

While no date has been fixed for the final vote on the third reading, it is expected that the clauses will be discussed within the committee after 13 July, and could possibly spill over to August.

Both government and Opposition MPs have been urged to draw up their amendments to the clauses beforehand through respective internal committees which will prepare the proposed changes for debate.

Meanwhile, the PN parliamentary group has been asked yesterday to provide information about their travel plans throughout July and August.

Informal talks are reportedly underway between government and the Opposition, and another House Business Committee is expected to be held next week to formalise an agreement whereby the committee stage will be taking note of the amendments made by MPs to the clauses, and then have them all referred to the Speaker, and a final vote on all will be taken in plenary at a date that is expected to be announced.

A senior parliamentary source told MaltaToday that both government and opposition will need to have all their MPs present in the House for the final votes on all the amendments, and this date could possibly run into August.

The bill will be debated in the wake of a referendum held on 28 May, whereby almost 53% of the electorate agreed to the introduction of divorce.

It was presented to parliament last July as a private members bill prepared by government MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, and was later co-sponsored by Opposition MP Evarist Bartolo.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had immediately declared his opposition to the introduction of divorce and had also led the PN to take a stand against it.

Following the referendum result, the Prime Minister urged parliament to “respect” the people’s wishes, however he refrained from declaring how he would be voting in parliament.

Gonzi insists however that “government will ensure” the bill is passed.