Malta passes law on divorce
Source: Agencies |
July 26, 2011, Tuesday
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MALTESE will no longer have to travel abroad to divorce, following yesterday's overwhelming vote in favor of finally allowing couples to end their marriages at home on the heavily Catholic island nation.
Prior to the vote, Malta was the only European Union nation without divorce legislation. The law takes effect in October, after Malta's president is expected to sign it.
Parliament acted yesterday after nearly 53 percent of voters said "yes" to divorce in a referendum on May 28. The vote was a blow to the ruling Nationalist Party, which had opposed divorce ahead of the referendum.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was one of the few who voted against the bill, believing divorce legislation will weaken the family structure. Gonzi had also voted "no" in an earlier vote on July 13, which led to the opposition Labor Party to call for his resignation on the grounds he was not respecting people's will.
Up to now, Maltese citizens could only obtain divorce abroad. In the last 30 years, 785 Maltese couples divorced this way, with numbers gradually rising from seven in 1981 to 47 in 2010. The bill was passed with 52 votes in favor, 11 against and five abstentions.
Prior to the vote, Malta was the only European Union nation without divorce legislation. The law takes effect in October, after Malta's president is expected to sign it.
Parliament acted yesterday after nearly 53 percent of voters said "yes" to divorce in a referendum on May 28. The vote was a blow to the ruling Nationalist Party, which had opposed divorce ahead of the referendum.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi was one of the few who voted against the bill, believing divorce legislation will weaken the family structure. Gonzi had also voted "no" in an earlier vote on July 13, which led to the opposition Labor Party to call for his resignation on the grounds he was not respecting people's will.
Up to now, Maltese citizens could only obtain divorce abroad. In the last 30 years, 785 Maltese couples divorced this way, with numbers gradually rising from seven in 1981 to 47 in 2010. The bill was passed with 52 votes in favor, 11 against and five abstentions.
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