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Divorce – The Private Members' Bill

So the breaking news has it that Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando has submitted a Private Members’ Bill for the introduction of divorce. It’s a bolt out of the blue (or the fringe blue) and it would be good to see what we do know about the facts until now and what we could speculate about:

  1. Sources from the PN have told the Times that this was a personal initiative of JPO and was not discussed at the level of the PN parliamentary group. Will the PN keep its distance from the bill? Will it claim ownership of the initiative? Are any of these two questions relevant as to whether the bill has any hope of becoming law?
  2. The bill will not be discussed/voted upon before summer recess which gives the PLPN enough reflection time (and time to gauge the reaction) until the re-entry after summer. A well timed bill from that aspect one must say.
  3. Vote-wise we should definitely have PL’s MP’s given the freedom to vote as their conscience tells them. From this point of view PL will have the carpet swept from under its feet. The bluff of the “progressive party” with no real clear stand on the introduction of divorce is being called before the next election. The “divorce” promise will hopefully not be a conning addendum in the catch-all excuses for a manifesto come next election.
  4. Equally we could finally get a clear picture of what the PN makes of this kind of subject without either the hedging or the ayatollah style pronunciation depending on the interlocutor.
  5. AD has already welcomed the bill and congratulated JPO. No prizes for guessing where there votes would go should they make it to parliament (highly unlikely given the current attitude to electoral system reform).
  6. The dice are cast for the opening of a practical debate on the introduction of divorce with an actual aim and deadline – the vote on the Private Bill.

Well done JPO. Of course the bets are now open to discuss whether JPO’s move was another renegade mission or a convenient PN move that allows it to keep its distance and act with two heads – the mainstream line (still not ready to introduce divorce) and the renegade marginals prepared to accomodate a more liberal philosophy. Rainbow politics once again? If so hats off to Macchiavelli.

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8 replies on “Divorce – The Private Members' Bill”

Paul the Octopus said Spain will beat Germany and he’s usually right. Now we should haul Paul over here and get him to give us his prediction on divorce or no divorce

to be kind to paul we should perhaps limit ourselves to asking what will come first, cohabitation or divorce in this carnival per minute of a nation…

Are any of these two questions relevant as to whether the bill has any hope of becoming law?

Here’s another one: would George Abela vote the act into law?

@FM. Ladarba qegħdin fir-realm tal-ħolm, that’d be killing two birds with one stone, n’est-ce pas? Divorce law, and rid of GA :D

U jaqa ghan-nejk Joseph Muscat meta l-ex-mara ta JPO u skoss parlamentari ohrajn izebgu r-ruzarju jivotaw kontra….prospetti sbieh….

What is the difference between annulment and divorce?
Is it maybe that when you try to get annulment you need to pull some stings and fork out a few some dosh????
I couldnt care less if they legalise it or not, but it amazes me what strong catholics we become when something of the sort comes about.
Jacques i really enjoy your writing…

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