MLP Leadership Candidates: Divorce and Gay partnerships

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20080525/interview/its-my-party
Sunday Times: It's my party
Sunday, 25th May 2008
Herman Grech and Mark Micallef

Here are excerpts from the interview.

What are your views on divorce?

George Abela
We need a clear strategy for minorities like gay rights, cohabitation rights and the issue of divorce. We need to have a clear distinction between the Church's moral stand and the rights and civil obligations of our reality.
As a progressive party in the EU, we can't ignore these realities. As a party we need to start a serious discussion.
However, we must always take into consideration the need to strengthen the family.
See also: http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/05/11/interview.html

Evarist Bartolo
We have a lot of couples who are facing problems and we should have a debate and find solutions that address their problems. I don't believe we should be EU members just to receive funds, while ignoring the important values of social coexistence. I have a happy marriage that is still going strong after 31 years but should I give the cold shoulder to people who are in a different situation and want a fresh start?

Joseph Muscat
I am in favour of the introduction of divorce and if elected and if Labour is in government I will be putting forward my own draft legislation and will give a free vote to our parliamentarians on this issue.

Michael Falzon
Again, I don't think I should pre-empt the party's position.
See also: http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/05/04/interview.html

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca
There will come a time when divorce has to be introduced. I would give a free vote to my MPs to decide.

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http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/05/18/interview.html
Julia Farrugia, Illum, 18.5.8
Joseph Muscat, Taqbel li l-MLP għandu jipproponi ż-żwieġ għal koppji gay?
Naħseb li hu prematur ħafna li wieħed jitkellem fuq dan. Ma naqbilx mat-terminu ‘żwieġ’.
Int iżżewwiġt imma….
Ma naħsibx li fil-każ ta’ koppji omosesswali wieħed jista’ jitkellem dwar żwieġ. Naħseb li hemm lok ta’ diskussjoni għal civil partnership.
Irridu nibdew billi nirrikonoxxu l-pożizzjoni ta’ eluf ta’ koppji f’pajjiżna li jpoġġu u mbagħad l-aktar ħaġa li tinteressani hi d-drittijiet ta’ uliedhom. Minn hemm irridu nibdew. Dan m’għandu jixxokkja lil ħadd. Meta qalha l-Gvern Nazzjonalista, meta qalha Lawrence Gonzi ħadd ma tkellem u ma naħsibx li xi ħadd għandu jixxokkja ruħu jekk inkun qed ngħidha jien bħala Mexxej Laburista.

http://www.illum.com.mt/2008/05/25/interview.html
Julia Farrugia, Illum, 25.5.8
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Taqbel li l-MLP għandu jipproponi ż-żwieġ għal koppji gay?
Le, ma naqbilx. Però naqbel żgur u din anke fid-dokument li għamilt dwar il-familja li kont responsabbli minnha jiena ipproponejtha, li għandu jkun hemm l-għarfien tad-drittijiet ċivili ta’ dawn in-nies. Dawn huma ċittadini daqs kulħadd u għandhom ikollhom id-drittijiet kollha tagħhom imħarsa.

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As as side-note it is interesting to take a look at the MLP's document on the electoral defeat. There is no mention of gays or homosexuals and there is only one reference to divorce:

http://www.mlp.org.mt/rizorsi/dokumenti/downloads/MLP_election_report_May08.pdf
Pg. 104 (pdf file) or pg. 97 (on paper)
Viżjoni
Jekk il-politika hija l-arti tal-konvinzjoni, l-MLP m'għandux jibża' li joħroġ bi proposti ġodda għall-pajjiż, li fil-bidu jafu ma jkunux popolari. Bħala eżempju nistgħu ngħidu li l-Partit m'għandux jiddejjaq jiftħu hu d-dibattitu nazzjonali dwar id-divorzju jekk huwa jħoss li leġiżlazzjoni bħal din ikun jaqbel magħha. Attitudni passiva rigward drittijiet ċivili simili ma tpoġġix lill-Partit Laburista bħala wieħed viżjonarju, anzi pjuttost tqiegħdu fil-kategorija ta' dawk li dejjem jieħdu l-attitudni ta' "nistennew u mbagħad naraw". Hija appuntu l-ħila fil-mod li jikkonvinċi li jrid ikun armat biha l-Partit Laburista, biex imbagħad jasal biex ma jibża' xejn li jkun viżjonarju. Il-Partit Laburista għandu l-ħtieġa li jħajjar lin-nies joħolmu l-ħolm li jkun qed joħlom hu.