Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/298224
Interview 12 WITH the country gearing up for the annual Easter festivities, the news headlines and social media sites were dominated by talk on the Opposi- tion's decision to abstain on the ea- gerly awaited civil unions vote. In the vote's aftermath, Busuttil and the PN were shred to pieces by the independent media and a number of analysts, including PN sympathisers. Others, including party leader Si- mon Busuttil, defended the decision and insisted that the Opposition was standing its ground. On Friday afternoon, the streets surrounding the PN headquarters were engulfed in an eerie silence and given that the interview took place on Good Friday, this came as no sur- prise. Yet, once we made our way to his office, things returned to normal, with Busuttil defending his party's decision to abstain with zeal, while never straying away from his calm demeanour. Among the most stinging criticism levelled at him, the PN leader was accused of lacking leadership and of allowing the conservative element in the party to prevent it from advanc- ing in a clear political direction. I ask what brought the PN's parlia- mentary group to decide to collec- tively abstain. He insists that that the two decisive factors were the govern- ment's insistence on lumping adop- tion of children by same-sex couples and civil unions together and sec- ondly, party unity. "Two unrelated things were delib- erately lumped together for political reasons," Busuttil says, explaining that while the PN is in favour of regu- larising same-sex relationships, it has reservations on allowing gay couples from adopting children because "so- ciety is not yet prepared and could have implications on children". He insists that government could have easily decided to separate the two matters, which would have meant that parliament would have unanimously approved the civil un- ions bill while government would have had the numbers to approve a separate bill on adoptions. "We found ourselves in a situ- ation in which we had to express ourselves on two separate matters in one singular vote. We are in favour of one thing and at this stage against the other, so we couldn't vote, nei- ther for nor against. We repeatedly asked government to separate the two matters and we even tabled pro- posals to have the two things sepa- rated. However, evidently the gov- ernment wanted the opposition to vote against but we did not fall into the trap, because we are in favour of civil unions." "But rather than seeking unity, this government is more intent on divid- ing parliament, and I would add – the country itself." The government's attitude, the PN leader adds, has resulted in "greater polarisation". Busuttil also drives the point home that the decision to abstain was unan- imous and despite having conserva- tive and liberal elements within the parliamentary group with manifestly divergent views, all 30 MPs agreed they would find a compromise, and ultimately abstain. "Even if we have persons with dif- ferent opinions within the group, everybody, collectively and unani- mously, agreed on abstaining." However, I note that showing a united front surely played a part in the Opposition's decision. "That was our second considera- tion. The group made its utmost to remain united despite it being a very sensitive issue," he says, adding that the PN brings together people with different ideas. "I am proud that party remained united and this has bothered La- bour so much that its journalists are hounding down our MPs asking them how they would have voted were they granted a free vote." He dismisses this as an attempt to undermine the PN's unity, insisting that, "MPs had a vote and they used it by abstaining". Moreover, he sums it all up by ex- plaining that the 'propaganda driven' Labour government piloted the bill to either bring the PN to vote against or appear divided, "but government failed". He acknowledges that the PN, a party which over the years has un- dergone various transformations unlike any other party in Malta, is a "coalition" of conservatives and lib- erals. This coalition, Busuttil argues, must remain united if the PN stands any chance in returning to power again. "Joseph Muscat is fixated with di- viding the two elements," the PN leader says, however he has no doubt that the party will remain strong be- cause "we believe that we can govern the country better". Over the past few days, Busuttil's capability of rallying his party troops was under the spotlight, and this prompts me to ask where he stands on the issue. What was Busuttil's ini- tial position before the party agreed to abstain? "What's the utility in telling you what would have been? There are no ifs and buts – it was a unanimous de- cision that went beyond everybody's personal view. If I were to tell you what I would have voted if we agreed on a free vote I would unravel the group's position and the unity which we all worked very hard for. What's the point? My duty as party leader is to preserve unity." The message of unity is clear. How- ever, I point out that factions remain, with the strong conservative wing being of particular note… "There's more to life than just white and black. In between there are fur- ther colours and shades. Surely, the conservative current did not have the upper hand, because the party would have voted against. The conservative current also accepted and agreed to abstain," he insists. Busuttil notes that on Monday, parliament also voted on the Op- position's motion to amend the Constitution in order to make any discrimination on the basis of sex- ual orientation unlawful, a proposal which he said drew universal sup- port, including both conservatives and liberals within the party. Although Busuttil used this to un- derline the party's unity and stronger commitment with regards to civil rights, he reminds me… in what ap- pears to be a contradiction within the PN's message. If the country's supreme law now makes it clear that citizens cannot be discriminated against over their sexual orientation, then this cer- tainly applies to anyone hoping to adopt children, regardless of the civil unions bill. "There is no contradiction. Adopt- ing or having children is not a right, irrespective of their sexual orienta- tion." But they do have a right to apply, I rebut. "No, the question is whether they have a right to become a parent and whether they have a right to adopt. This right does not exist. There is a difference between applying and adopting. When it comes to chil- dren, the right belongs exclusively to them." The Opposition leader adds that the PN looked into this before pro- posing the Constitutional amend- ment, confirming that it did not cre- ate any conflict at all. Under no circumstances should adoption of children by gay couples be illegal, Busuttil says, but he in- sists that society is not ready and the country should have dealt with the issue at a later stage, when schools – and the rest of society – would be better prepared. Busuttil acknowledges that a number of gay couples have adopted, as a single person, or care for their own children, but further studies should be undertaken. One notable difference from the 2011 divorce referendum campaign, I note, is the deafening silence of the church and civil society and Busuttil concurs. "I am very worried by the fact that society on a whole, including those who backed or opposed the bill, re- mained silent, too silent. I attribute this to Labour's victory last year, and given the large majority it obtained everybody believes that Joseph Mus- cat has a licence to do as he pleases. But that's far from true; democracy does not function in that way. It is wrong to allow government bully so- ciety – including the Church – into silence over such matters." He points out that the Church did not say much on the matter, despite its opposition to the law. "There's something missing in our democracy. Something is undermin- ing democracy, and I attribute this to government's attitude and its way of doing politics, especially the Prime Minister, who neutralises whoever does not agree with him." The 45-year-old lawyer adds that there's nothing new in Muscat "flat- tening" all forms of opposition, in- sisting that part of the crowd who booed Busuttil and his fellow MPs as they made their way out from parlia- ment after Monday's vote was "or- chestrated" by Labour. While pointing out that a number of persons who descended to St George's Square were genuinely cel- ebrating the introduction of civil un- ions, Busuttil says that others were part of Labour's rent-a-mob. "In which democratic country do MPs get insulted in such a way for simply carrying out their duties?" he asks. Drawing an example from this week's events, Busuttil underlines the PN's unity. But did this come at a cost, I ask, especially with regards to liberal- minded voters who might feel alien- ated by the PN's decision? He said the party is capable of over- coming this because whatever stand a political party takes, "Sometimes you lose and sometimes you earn support". Many also expressed doubt over whether abstaining was an easy way out for the PN, though Busuttil disa- grees with this analysis. "We did take a stand. It was an ex- plained abstention," he says, adding that he was proud of the unity shown throughout "a very difficult week". In justifying the Opposition's deci- sion to abstain, Busuttil has cited a By Jurgen Balzan By James Debono FOSTERING DIVISION Rather than seeking unity, this government is more intent on dividing parliament, and I would add – the country itself DEMOCRACY IN DANGER Something is undermining democracy, and I attribute this to government's attitude and its way of doing politics maltatoday, SUNDAY, 20 APRIL 2014 Muscat is 'flattening' detractors