Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and PN Leader Simon Busuttil are totalitarian leaders by denying MPs a free vote of the Marriage Equality bill, PN MP Edwin Vassallo has told The Malta Independent.

Vassallo, who was speaking in an interview which will be published on Sunday, said that Muscat and Busuttil “are not liberals, they are totalitarians who are using people. If they really were liberals they would allow everyone to express their own opinion, even if they did not agree with it.”

“It is a fake democracy; [Muscat and Busuttil] are fake. If they were genuine they would have done like Angela Merkel did a few days ago.”

The German Chancellor recently oversaw the introduction of gay marriage within her country, which was approved by a parliament that had been granted a free vote on the issue.

Pressed as to what decision he intended take at the third and final reading of the bill next Wednesday, after voting against the second reading last week, Vassallo would not commit, first saying that he felt bound by duty to represent the interests of a portion of the electorate, while later hinting that he may follow the party line.

“I will keep my options open, and will continue to ask for a free vote until Wednesday. I promise the people who I represent that I will continue to say no, but I may need to make a compromise to remain alive politically in order to fight the upcoming battles.”

“If I have to vote I will do so with my hands tied behind my back.”

The PN Parliamantary Group yesterday discussed the gay marriage issue, including the stand taken by Vassallo.