Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/842553
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 28 JUNE 2017 5 News Marriage equality bill introduces uniformity worthy of communist nation, insists Opposition MP YANNICK PACE PARLIAMENT on Monday began its second reading of the Marriage Equality bill, which looks set to become law before Parliament breaks off for the summer recess. The Opposition has stated that it would be voting in fa- vour of the bill, in contrast to the civil unions vote back in 2014, when it abstained. While the party has made its position clear, many close to the party have voiced con- cern at the decision, with me- dia reports citing unnamed Opposition MPs stating they were not comfortable voting in favour and preferring to be given a free vote in parlia- ment. One issue that was of con- cern to a number of MPs who spoke to MaltaToday before Monday's parliamentary ses- sion, was the use of neutral terms, such as spouse instead of the term husband or wife. "The law will now give some the right to have their same- sex marriage recognised while at the same time, tak- ing away the right for some- one to be called a husband or a wife, or a father or a mother," argued National- ist MP Clyde Puli, who said that while striving for equal- ity was positive, the bill in- troduced a "perverse" way of recognising equality. "The government confuses equality with uniformity," said Puli. "[The removal of these terms introduces] a lev- el of uniformity that is wor- thy of a communist country." According to Puli, equal- ity should mean working to- wards "real diversity", rather than making "all people the same". Despite his reservations, Puli said however that he was in agreement with the basic principle of the law. The Opposition's justice spokesperson Jason Azzopar- di voiced similar concerns, describing the use of neutral language as an aberration. Asked whether he agreed with the bill, Azzoapardi said this would ultimately depend on whether the government accepted the changes recom- mended by the Opposition. "I think it is clear that re- moving the concepts of ma- ternity and paternity from our laws is an aberration," he said. "It's not logical." Others seemed less con- cerned with the wording of the bill. Parliamentary new- comer Karol Aquilina said he agreed with the bill since the Nationalist Party had al- so in its electoral manifesto pledged to introduce the law. "Naturally one can discuss the details so that the law can be improved," he added. This was echoed by deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami who said that he would be voting for the bill. "We agree with the prin- ciple, but there will be some amendments we will be put- ting forward," he said. Karl Gouder, Parliament's only openly-gay MP, said that while he was in agreement with the law, he too felt that there were some amendments that needed to be made for the law to be better and for it to "respect public opinion". Meanwhile, Partit Demokratiku leader and Na- tionalist MP Marlene Far- rugia chose to focus more on the positive aspects of the bill. "I agree with it," said Far- rugia. "There are some mi- nor issues and we can discuss ways of improving the law at the committee stage, the pos- sibility of ending discrimi- nation and having everyone being considered as equal in our society is a step we need to take." MP Chris Said, who is con- testing for the party's a lead- ership, was curt with his re- sponse, insisting that he was "in favour of the Nationalist Party's position". Similarly, Opposition whip David Agi- us, said he would be express- ing his views in parliament. MP Stephen Spiteri said the PN parliamentary group had decided it would be voting in favour of the law. When pressed on whether he agreed with the spirit of the law he insisted that there was noth- ing to agree with, and the PN would be voting in favour. Hermann Schiavone, anoth- er of the newcomers on the Opposition benches insisted he was obliged to comply with the Opposition's whip when asked. "The party's position is clear, there is government whip to consider and I must abide by what he says," said Schiavone. It is clear that removing the concepts of maternity and paternity is an aberration Beppe Fenech Adami Clyde Puli Stephen Spiteri Marlene Farrugia Jason Azzopardi