Nationalist Party Members of Parliament will not be given a free vote tonight when Parliament votes on the civil unions bill, or gay marriage, The Malta Independent has learnt.

MPs tonight will be voting on the bill at the end of the session, and PN MPs will be voting as one block, which will most likely be an abstention.

The PN has expressed itself in favour of civil unions but reserved its position on gay adoptions, which is part of the bill. 

Karl Gouder, former nationalist MP Karl Gouder publicly stated on his social networks:  ‘Today is an important day for Malta. Just wish that the party I love so much could have done more to get to this day.”  Speaking to The Malta Independent  Mr.Gouder said that feels the nationalist party could have been more sensitive with regard to this issue. “It is only logical that in 2014, such a bill is approved. It is about time that we introduce such equality.”

 

PN Executive member Jean Claude Micallef also posted on Facebook stating that he supports the civil union bill, describing it as an essential milestone for a democratic country.