Malta has said yes to a divorce after more than 52% of citizens will be shown in its favor in a referendum held yesterday on the Mediterranean island, reports the Times of Malta. The landlocked country, with 98% of Catholics among its nearly 500,000 inhabitants, is the only country in the European Union (EU) still does not provide this figure in its legislation.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi conservative, has said that "the results are not what they had wanted, but the will of the people must be respected and the Parliament will act to introduce a divorce law." In Malta it is already contained in the marital separation and divorce obtained abroad by the couples formed by two Maltese or a Maltese and a foreigner already legally recognized by the state.
The leader of the movement itself, the deputy of the ruling Nationalist Party, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, said that this result is significant "because it leads to Malta into a new era where church and state be separate." The leader of the Movement for Divorce, Deborah Schembri, has declared victory, as the deputy of the opposition Labor Party Evaristo Bartolo, who has assured that "the sun is shining on the island." The referendum comes after it was submitted to Parliament a draft law of divorce, winning the other, will continue its passage in Parliament.
This is the second referendum in Malta, following the one held in 2003 to approve the accession to the European Union. 
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi conservative, has said that "the results are not what they had wanted, but the will of the people must be respected and the Parliament will act to introduce a divorce law." In Malta it is already contained in the marital separation and divorce obtained abroad by the couples formed by two Maltese or a Maltese and a foreigner already legally recognized by the state.
The leader of the movement itself, the deputy of the ruling Nationalist Party, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, said that this result is significant "because it leads to Malta into a new era where church and state be separate." The leader of the Movement for Divorce, Deborah Schembri, has declared victory, as the deputy of the opposition Labor Party Evaristo Bartolo, who has assured that "the sun is shining on the island." The referendum comes after it was submitted to Parliament a draft law of divorce, winning the other, will continue its passage in Parliament.
This is the second referendum in Malta, following the one held in 2003 to approve the accession to the European Union.
- Malta votes 'yes' to divorce: reports (29/05/2011)
- Reports: Malta says 'Yes' to divorce - Danbury News Times (29/05/2011)
- Malta says 'Yes' to divorce - NewsOK.com (29/05/2011)
- "Referendum in Catholic Malta backs introduction of divorce" and related posts (29/05/2011)
- Reports: Malta votes 'Yes' to divorce in referendum (29/05/2011)
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