In the Press: Ex-presidents agree with Abela's stance on civil unions

The Times of Malta

Two ex-presidents have spoken out in defence of President Abela’s refusal to sign the civil unions bill. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and Eddie Fenech Adami said that Abela should not sign the bill if it goes against his conscience. Mifsud Bonnici said that in the same position, he would have done the same thing. Fenech Adami stated that principles should not be for sale, even if refusing to sign a bill would leave only the options of resignation or an impeachment motion.

In-Nazzjon

Mepa has approved the use of Heavy Fuel Oil, despite Labour’s pre-electoral to change the Delimara power station’s operations to use diesel instead. This is the second time Mepa has given its approval in the use of HFO. In international news, the Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is planning to contest the presidential elections, due to be held in the Ukraine in May.

L-Orizzont

130 beds will occupy a new extension to Mater Dei, the building of which was approved yesterday by Mepa. The two new wards will not increase the current building’s height and there will not be an increase in parking. L-Orizzont reports that despite a monitoring study showing that the Delimara power station emissions were within the set limits, Prof Victor Axiaq, a member of the Mepa board, remains unconvinced. The board approved the use of HFO until the plant can be converted to gas power generation. Prof Axiaq said that despite the air quality study, the power station could still be contributing to illness connected to unsafe emissions.

The Malta Independent

The front page of this newspaper is occupied by a report on President George Abela’s refusal to sign the civil unions bill. The PM has refused to comment on the refusal, saying that discussions between the President and himself would remain private. The issue of civil unions, which would allow same-sex couples the legal rights and obligations as heterosexual couples, was heavily discussed when Abela visited the Pope recently, according to sources.