Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/823773
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 14 MAY 2017 News THE Nationalist Party will be in- cluding gay marriage in its elec- toral manifesto, PN leader Simon Busuttil said yesterday during a live Facebook session. Busuttil said this was the next logical step, even if to prevent the matter from continuing to be po- liticised. A gay marriage bill has already been drafted by the Labour gov- ernment. When Parliament had debated civil unions, Busuttil had said that while the Opposition agreed with unions among gay couples, it had reservations on allowing them to adopt chidren. The PN parliamentary group had then ab- stained on the civil unions legisla- tion of 2014. Busuttil yesterday said he be- lieved that all rights that had been given by this government should be retained and the fear that was being spread that his party would not retain gay marriage, was base- less. MaltaToday reported this week that the PN's youth wing (MZPN) is petitioning the party to include full marriage equality in its mani- festo. An MZPN spokesperson told MaltaToday it had included full marriage equality in its youth electoral manifesto it had final- ised for the PN. "The youth wing has been put- ting its final touches on the elec- toral programme following the announcement by PN leader Si- mon Busuttil that the party will put forward an electoral pro- gramme specifically addressed to and compiled with youths from all social backgrounds," the spokes- person said. Civil unions were introduced in Malta by the Labour government in 2014, an electoral promise that swayed the gay vote towards the PL at the time. At the time the PN had chosen to abstain on the par- liamentary vote, with Opposition leader Simon Busuttil citing con- cerns that it would pave the way for gay adoptions, something he felt was not representative of what the majority wanted. "The PN will support this pro- posal and party leader Simon Busuttil is known to support gay marriage, having already gone on record a year ago saying that he is in favour of this change," the spokesperson said. "The change is an important step toward full marriage equal- ity. Love has no gender. We believe that it is high time that this rec- ognition is granted and that this issue is no longer used for politi- cal mileage by anyone with ulte- rior motives other than absolute equality." PM to miss Uni debate PRIME Minister Joseph Muscat has confirmed he won't be able to attend a leaders' debate being or- ganised at the University of Malta, as it clashes with the Ukrainian President's official visit to Malta. Both the debate and the state visit have been scheduled for next Tuesday and attempts by the Of- fice of the Prime Minister to re- schedule the leaders' debate have proved to be futile. The leaders' debate, hosted by the University of Malta's Debat- ing Union, will include PN leader Simon Busuttil, PD leader Mar- lene Farrugia and Alternattiva Demokratika leader Arnold Cas- sola. The debate has formerly hosted Muscat, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and Alternattiva Demokra- tika chairperson Michael Brigug- lio in 2013, as well as Gonzi and Labour leader Alfred Sant back in 2008 together with AD chairper- son Harry Vassallo and Azzjoni Nazzjonali Josie Muscat. According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the debating un- ion was adamant that the date and time of the debate were not up for discussion and thus "non-negotia- ble". "We were presented with a take it or leave it situation," Muscat said when asked by reporters why he would not be attending. He said that the Ukrainian Pres- ident's Petro Poroshenko's visit programme had been confirmed for months. Muscat said he had other "days and weeks" during which he would be available for Busuttil reiterates gay marriage pledge 2147 0944 2147 0999 Email: juanal@juanal.com.mt Cellular: 9949 3594 Facsimile: 2147 0944 Telephone: 2147 0999