Partit Demokratiku Leader Marlene Farrugia said that the Labour Party should elect a female deputy leader so that it can show how truly progressive the government is. Speaking in Parliament this evening, as the MPs are called to debate the Marriage Equality Bill, Farrugia called on the Labour Party "to make history again and choose the only female contender for the post of deputy leader." Minister Helena Dalli is one of the three contenders for the PL Deputy Leadership race, together with Chris Fearne and Edward Scicluna.
She said it is a very positive thing that the first parliamentary session for the 13th legislature is about a civil liberty on which both parties are in agreement.
She said that this bill will create more awareness and more equality. "For those who are still unsure, because of religion, I tell you; I have never felt more Christian than today." Farrugia said that this law will guarantee that no one is left behind.
She said it is useless to create policy if the spirit of civil liberty is ignored. "I call on the Labour Party to make history again, and choose a female Deputy Leader. Not just because she is a woman, but because I know she is a person with whom everyone can work with."
Opening this evening's session, Minister for Social Dialogue Helena Dalli said that this government has campaigned and created a movement which does not shy away from making progressive leaps forward in civil liberties. She said for these rights to be given, the government truly needs to feel the pulse of those who are suffering and to do so, the government needs to show it is human.
Speaking in parliament, Dalli said that this bill is a celebration of what this government has achieved throughout the last years. Gender identity bill and the criminalisation of gay conversion therapy were among the best measures introduced by this government, she told Parliament this evening.
"We propose laws because we know they are going to help and improve people's lives. We campaigned with love and will government with love and equality."
She said that the PN administration had been promising cohabitation one election after another, but it had to be the Labour Party in government to actually act in this regard. Commenting on how the PN abstained in the civil union parliamentary vote, Dalli said that the public is telling the PN to move on. "The public has repeatedly voted against the politics of doom by the PN and those who are still tied by the conservative chains."
Parliament was convened during the summer period, when Members of Parliament are usually on holiday, to discuss the second reading of the Marriage Equality Bill which will introduce gay marriage.
The Nationalist Party has already declared it will vote in favour.
David Agius, the PN whip and spokesperson for Civil Liberties and Youths, immediately started his first speech in a slightly aggressive manner. He spoke about how the Prime Minister wanted to move on a bill which was only published this morning. He said normally such bills are given to the Opposition a week before. Agius said that the PN has already made it clear, even in the election manifesto that it intends to keep up the civil rights momentum.
Aguis asked why will the bill remove the words 'mother' or 'father' instead changing it to 'a person who gave birth'. "So how will we be celebrating Mother's Day?" he said.
"Did the election result go to your head already?" he asked as he went on with his rant.