No discussions on abortion, government insists

The government has denied discussing the introduction of abortion as claimed in some sections of the media on Sunday.

“The government denies any discussions on the introduction of abortion. It is not being discussed and it is not part of the government’s agenda,” a government spokesperson said in response to questions by MaltaToday.

According to a report in Nationalist Party newspaper il-Mument, efforts are underway within the Office of the Prime Minister for an abortion bill to be presented to parliament during the current legislature.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has previously poured cold water on the possibility of a debate on the sensitive subject, insisting that his government had no mandate to do so.

The report claimed that in light of these plans, Muscat intends for Education Minister Evarist Bartolo to succeed Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca because he is “a liberal” who would have no issues signing an abortion bill into law.

Labour Party sources described the move as a desperate attempt to divert attention from accusations of domestic violence being levelled at PN leader Adrian Delia.

Il-Mument’s report also claimed that any plans for the introduction of abortion would be supported by the pressure group Occupy Justice.

Occupy Justice - a pressure group set up to demand justice for the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galiiza – called out the newspaper insisting that the story was fabricated.

“Occupy Justice categorically refutes the absurd allegations made by Il-Mument in its almost-laughable attempt to divert attention from serious allegations of domestic abuse made against the Leader of the Opposition,” the group said on Facebook.

“It is highly irresponsible of a newspaper editor to resort to fabricating fake news in order to try to distract from an alleged criminal act.”