Nationalist Party MP Edwin Vassallo had told Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil and Whip David Agius of his decision to vote against the Marriage Equality Bill before yesterday morning’s Parliamentary session where he made his position publicly known.

Parliament was debating the second reading of the Marriage Equality Bill that will establish gay marriage. The Bill as proposed by the government seeks to remove gender specific terminology such as ‘mother’, ‘father’, ‘husband’ and ‘wife’. The PN is in favour of gay marriage but is seeking to keep the gender specific terminology but add terms such as ‘spouse’ and ‘partner’ in the text.

Yesterday Vassallo shocked Parliament when he declared that he would be voting against the whip on the Marriage Equality Bill. He voted against the second reading in the evening session.

Vassallo was the first and only MP to vote against the bill. “I am not voting against same sex marriage. I am voting against the content in the law. No party had the mandate to introduce such law.” The Nationalist Party, like the Labour Party, included same sex marriage in the election manifesto. 

The Malta Independent sent questions to PN Whip David Agius, to ask whether he was informed of Vassallo’s position before the parliamentary session took place. He was also asked whether PN MPs will be given a free vote in the matter in view of divergent positions. Agius said that the MPs will not be given a free vote, and what will happen should Vassallo still choose to vote against is something to be discussed within the party ‘internally’.

He confirmed that the PN parliamentary group’s decision to vote in favour of gay marriage remains unchanged. The PN yesterday, with the exception of Vassallo, voted in favour of the second reading of the law, and said it wil present amendments in the committee stage. If these amendments are not accepted, the PN will still vote in favour in the third and final reading.