Divorce: AD “Labour to betray people’s vote”
Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party expressed shock at reports of Labour’s decision to propose a fault-based divorce on property and assets, betraying the YES movement and the verdict of Maltese voters on the divorce referendum.
Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said that “if it is true that Labour shall make such a proposal, it is simply unbelievable that the so-called progressive Labour Party is proposing a fault-based divorce, which has been removed in other democracies. A fault-based divorce will simply result in unnecessary traumas and hardships on adults and children in courts. Rather than having compulsory fault-based divorces on issues related to assets and property, as proposed by Labour, it should be up to couples themselves to decide whether they should take this to court. Otherwise there shall be compulsory lengthy and costly court procedures even when not required. AD publicly asks Labour’s Evarist Bartolo and Deborah Schembri, who were both members of the IVA movement, for their position on Labour’s stand”.
Yvonne Arqueros Ebejer, AD Spokesperson for Civil Rights, said that “as a Green Party AD is appalled at Labour’s betrayal of what Maltese people voted for. This comes after Labour’s opportunistic decision not to take a stand on the divorce issue prior to the referendum. As is the case with some PN and PL members of parliament who will abstain or vote against the introduction of divorce, Labour is simply taking democracy for a ride”.