Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/197223
9 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2013 hy debate' on civil unions bill world – stated said that her position was more in line with what Pope Francis was saying than with how the Maltese Church was dealing with the issue. "Some people are worried that we may end up in hell. But this bill aims to pull people who have been discriminated all their lives out of the hell that they live in. The basis of this legislation is to start to create a society that is equal for all and not for some." Questioning whether or not the opposition stood behind their first statement (that this was a historical step) or in their later statement (that the bill was confusing), Dalli said the opposition had to make up its mind. "Experts such as Neil Falzon, a gay activist who has just got married himself, are very happy with the resulting bill who said this was as close to what we wanted and what the government would want." Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli: "Some people are worried that we may end up in hell. But this bill aims to pull people who have been discriminated all their lives out of the hell that they live in" avour of civil unions, 'a step for the party' to consult the opposition on the bill. During her speech, Minister Helena Dalli reiterated that the LBGTI consultative council was made up of groups and NGOs who worked directly with the gay community. The opposition leader however accused Dalli of having indulged in a "partisan speech". "The Labour Party is more interested in using the gay community for its political necessities rather than because it truly believes in the cause," Busuttil said. The opposition leader said it was a fact that a percentage of the Maltese population was gay, and that they formed a community which was very much part of Maltese society. "This law sends a clear message to the gay community that we want them to be an integral part of our society," he said. Busuttil also said the opposition would be proposing a number of amendments at committee stage. These amendments would be to clearly distinguish between the civil marriage law and civil union laws. "The amendments will not create any obstacles but delineate the difference between the two laws." By way of example, Busuttil said there are sections of the civil marriage – such as the reference to religious marriage – which could not be applied to civil unions. At one point, as Busuttil and Dalli engaged in a tit-for-tat, Busuttil said the PN had always been open to the gay community, "so much so that during the past legislature we had an MP who was openly gay" – referring to former Nationalist MP Karl Gouder. The opposition leader however did not name him. PN deputy leader for parliaOpposition leader Simon Busuttil: "People must understand that mentary affairs Mario de Marco everyone, irrespective of the sexual orientation or race, is equal" said both the PN and Labour were aiming for the same target. "We both want the union between same-sex couples to be respected these people must understand that by no way does it mean that this is a and given the same rights as every- everyone, irrespective of the sexual new reality," de Marco said. body else," he said. orientation or race, is equal. After He noted that all too often, parAccording to the deputy leader, all, we are all born under the same liamentary discussions reveal difwhile the PN went through a period sky." ferences between two sides of the of "conservative caution", the current He said that recognising differences House. "But trying to score politiparliamentary group acknowledged of society was a way of showing a lev- cal points is what many try to do... there are people with different be- el of national maturity. "Undoubted- something which shows why the two liefs. ly, this bill is being heavily promoted parties are so different," he said, add"Even if some of these are people by the local LGBTI community. And ing that both the PL and PN electoral are not ready to give gay couples even though we are now at a stage to programmes included the issue of equal rights, with all due respect, legally recognise such relationships, same-sex couples. idate consultant to stry Miriam Dalli istration, these guidelines were formulated in order to set a limit on the number of advisors a ministry can have and also to set parameters for terms of contract." The spokesperson said Dalli's areas of expertise were primarily communications, corporate social responsibility and sustainability together with stakeholder management. "This is based on her past experience in these areas within the private sector," the energy ministry said. The ministry added that Dalli's appointment was in line with the policy utilised in engaging advisers within a Ministry. While the PL referred to civil union, the PN's electoral pledge referred to civil partnerships. He said that while one would have expected that there were two different legal realities, it was more of a formality than anything else. "There isn't any difference between a partnership and union. The difference would lie in the actual wording of the bill, and the rights that it discusses. What's in a name? The reality is there no difference between what the Nationalists proposed and what the Labour have tabled," de Marco said. De Marco said the country must "unite" under this bill: "The argument is simple... who are we to discriminate and distinguish between different people? Who are we to say that others should be more equal because of their sexual orientation?" Going a step further, de Marco said another section of society had to be ignored but which required the same protection nonetheless. "What about those who have decided they don't want to formally and legally join in marriage or civil union? It is about time that we acknowledge those who want to cohabitate." Former deputy prime minister Tonio Borg will not be a candidate SOURCES told MaltaToday that the European Commissioner for Health and consumer police Tonio Borg will not be a candidate on behalf of the Nationalist Party for the next European Parliament elections. Numerous nationalist supporters were indicating that the former deputy Prime Minister and deputy leader of the Nationalist Party would be a 'star candidate' for the next European Parliament elections to be held in May 2014. However, sources that spoke with MaltaToday stated that he wouldn't be among the contenders. Moreover, these sources suggested that there might not be another batch of candidates for the next European Parliament elections, stating that the eight candidates chosen in the first batch are final. In July, the PN announced its first batch of candidates for the MEP elections, to take place in May 2004. The eight candidates, all approved by the commission tasked with the vetting of candidates, include Playmobil's former CEO Helga Ellul and Chamber of Commerce official Stefano Mallia. Current MEPs David Casa and Roberta Metsola will be seeking re-election. The other candidates include Gozitan lawyer Kevin Cutajar, the former president of the PN's youth section Kevin Plumpton, lawyer Therese Commodini Cachia and entrepreneur Jonathan Shaw. A specially-appointed party commission carried out the selection of the MEP candidates. These sources were disappointed that there might not be a second batch of candidates for the next European Parliament elections. They argued that the PN required more candidates "who are capable of winning the people's trust". They mentioned TV presenter Jean Claude Micallef and stated that he "needs to be on the list of candidates. Why is the PN holding on to his candidature? He was acquitted of charges of fraud and misappropriation, so what's the problem now?" The chairman of the PN's commission that chose the MEP candidates, Joe Borg, hinted that the only problem as regard to Jean Claude Micallef's candidature was this criminal case. "In the case of Jean Claude, he himself admitted he was facing criminal procedures and we felt we had to temporarily suspend his candidature in this context."