Kaizenlog

The divorce issue reminds me very much of a bear which hibernates for several months and then surfaces: it hibernates for years on end and then, all of a sudden, it vehemently re-explodes on the national scene. This is exactly what is happening at the moment when, after a period of relative desaparecido status, the subject is being debated on all national media by one and all.

MLP leader Joseph Muscat, Minister John Dalli, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Archbishop Paul Cremona have all joined in the fray and expressed their views on the topic. It would seem to some that divorce is now firmly and solidly on the national political agenda. I strongly suspect that in fact it is not! The public will simply experience the usual cyclic attitude whereby, following a period of intense hype for a few months on the subject, it will again be relegated to the hibernation couch for another few years, until it is again resuscitated at the next opportune political moment.

What are the facts? Although recognising that divorce will never bring back to a couple the serenity which a happy marriage should entail, Alternattiva Demokratika is the only political party in Malta that has consistently believed over the past 19 years that mature adults should have access to divorce if they so wish. The decision should be their own. It should not be thrust upon them by the state.

After all, various sociological surveys that were held regarding divorce, show that the Maltese population is split in two on the issue: the pro-divorce camp hovering between 45% (A.M Abela Values Survey, 1999, Mario Vassallo€ ¦’²s survey for the Times, 2006) and 50% (James Debono for Malta Today).

Divorce does not bring about the collapse of marriage. Indeed, couples can resort to divorce only after the irreparable collapse of their marriage has actually taken place. Of course, it is natural and highly commendable that believers in the Catholic faith should not resort to divorce. On the other hand, if they so will, other adults who have seen a first marriage collapse should be given the chance to try and rebuild a new married life, based on love and mutual respect.

This is already possible for all Maltese citizens if they manage to obtain a divorce abroad. The Maltese government is obliged to recognise such divorce and these divorcees can re-marry without any problems in our country. However, all other Maltese who are resident in Malta are not allowed by the Maltese state to divorce in our country. Alternattiva Demokratika would like to give this possibility to Maltese citizens resident in Malta.

A few days after being elected, the Malta Labour Party leader Joseph Muscat declared (in The Malta Independent) that, when in government, he would introduce legislation to favour the possibility of obtaining divorce in our country. In reaction, PN Minister John Dalli stated in a newspaper interview that he firmly believed that a discussion on divorce should begin. Prime Minister Gonzi reiterated that he was ready to give the go ahead to the discussion.

Many interpreted these declarations as the beginning of a veritable social evolution for our country. Personally, I am not at all convinced yet. Of course, it has been a step in the right direction for Joseph Muscat to voice his opinion. But what few seem to realise is that Dr Muscat has actually postponed any possibility of introducing divorce in our country till at least 2013-2014, and then only if he is elected.

Why is he doing so? As the leader of a 34-person strong parliamentary group, Dr Muscat could actually have the bill presented in parliament any day. Why hasn€ ¦’²t he done so? He has answered this question by simply passing on the buck: if Dr Gonzi allows his MPs a free vote, then Dr Muscat would present the bill now.

But Dr Muscat knows pretty well that all that Dr Gonzi has stated is that he is ready to start the discussion. As if the discussion has not been going on for the past 20 years or so! And Dr Gonzi is not in a position to give a free vote to his MPs today since he has been already given advance warning by ministers of the likes of Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici that divorce should not be introduced in Malta in any way or form.

Even Dr Muscat has received written monitory letters from Labour MPs Adrian Vassallo and Marlene Pullicino, who are basically stating: divorce over my dead body.

We are therefore just witnessing an exercise in dilly dallying and in the passing of the buck, which will simply continue going on, thus perpetuating the illusion for those 35 year-olds of 20 years ago, who today are 55 years old and who will probably never witness any sign of a divorce law in Malta before they become pensioners.

Had Alternattiva Demokratika elected an MP in the national parliament last March, the situation would have been so very different: our MP would have already presented in Parliament a private member€ ¦’²s bill for the introduction of divorce.

And all 69 MPs would have been forced to come out in the open with their real intentions, rather than fuelling the dilly dallying with more empty illusions.

What is done is done. But maybe the Maltese and Gozitan electorate could start considering as from now the positive effect of electing an Alternattiva Demokratika MEP at the European Parliament elections that are to be held in less than ten months€ ¦’² time.

arnoldcassola [Email address: arnoldcassola #AT# gmail.com - replace #AT# with @ ]

www.arnoldcassola.wordpress.com

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