Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party welcomed Parliament’s
approval of the divorce legislation, and said that it is honoured to
have set the ball rolling for the introduction of this civil right.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson said: “AD welcomes the introduction
of divorce in Malta. Malta has now joined the rest of the world in
granting a basic civil right through which people can find official
closure and re-marry following a failed marriage. As Chairperson of
the Green Party I am proud that AD has been in favour of this civil
right ever since it was founded in 1989, and to have set the ball
rolling for the introduction of divorce when last year we wrote to all
members of parliament, which eventually led to the founding of the YES
campaign and to the divorce referendum.”

“AD believes that no member of parliament should have voted against
the divorce legislation, particularly when it was the same parliament
that decided for a divorce referendum. In particular, Prime Minister
Lawrence Gonzi should not have voted against, particularly when it was
the same Dr Gonzi who originally suggested a referendum. Dr Gonzi’s no
vote shows not only that his confessional outlook is out-of-synch with
contemporary Maltese society but, above all, it shows that, for him,
the divorce referendum and parliamentary procedures were merely
mathematical means in a futile attempt to keep Malta without the basic
civil right of divorce”.

Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD Deputy Chairperson and Spokesperson for
Civil Rights said: “The introduction of divorce is a historic
achievement for Malta. On this issue, Maltese people will finally be
treated as adults and will no longer be discriminated against, unlike
the situation prior to the introduction of divorce. Being Malta’s
progressive political party, AD will campaign for the introduction of
other civil rights”.