Gay marriage is already on the statute books in virtue of the 2014 bill and the bill presently being examined by Parliament will become a law in virtue of the Government's majority, said Nationalist leader Simon Busuttil this morning.
Speaking in an interview on Radio 101, Dr Busuttil said the party has long been debating the issue on this delicate matter. The party has always allowed its members to express their views, whereas there is no discussion inside Labour ranks.
But then the moment of decisions comes and it is the duty of all party members to seek union inside the party, Dr Busuttil added, without once mentioning Edwin Vassallo by name.
This bill will certainly become law in virtue of the government's seven seat majority.
Besides, the 2014 Act on civil unions already introduced gay marriage in Malta. Article 4 in fact says that civil unions have the same rights and duties as marriage.
So while there is debate inside the party, Dr Busuttil added, he is not ready to allow the party to go through again what it suffered in 2014.
Last year, when he was with his back to the wall because of the Panama Papers, the prime minister, seeking to deviate attention, came up with the idea of gay marriage. In just one hour, Dr Busuttil said, he had replied that Malta already has gay marriage in view of the 2014 law.
The party, moreover, committed itself to gay marriage in its electoral manifesto which was approved by the party executive, with no one voting against, and also by the General Council, again with no one voting against.
In a direct contradiction to what has been said by Edwin Vassallo, Dr Busuttil added that no one said he was not ready to be a candidate because of this commitment.
MPs have to respect the party's manifesto. This is what they promised people.
The party must approve the bill. Today's society also includes LGBTIQ people: they are part of society. So either PN acts as if these people do not exist or else it gives them their rights.
In Parliament, Dr Busuttil added, he had asked himself what if one of his two sons tells him he is gay. Will he tell him to go and sit in a corner for the rest of his days?
Some are bringing forward the religion argument. It is true the PN is a Christian Democrat party but this does not mean it is a church party and the bishop's pastoral letter is its manifesto.
For a practising Catholic like himself, Dr Busuttil added, this is a conflict, definitely not a piece of cake, nor a walk in the park. This is not the first time, either. The party was against divorce, but then people voted in favour and PN accepted the people's verdict. The same is happening now.
Common good requires the party to vote in favour at the Third Reading.
PN muat remain a united party. No one should split the party for this is what Joseph Muscat wants. He told the PN MPs they are free to express their opinions but then to vote together.

Next Dr Busuttil spoke about FIAU and the sacking of two high officials about which even a European Parliament committee had raised concerns. There are three magisterial inquiries ongoing - two with regards to Keith Schembri and one with regards to Dr Muscat himself. Contrary to what has been said by Dr Muscat, these inquiries have not been settled by the result of the election. Dr Busuttil said he hopes the inquiries continue and come to a conclusion.

The two persons who were sacked were professional experts, one of them not even a Maltese. They were doing their job. The PN will continue to follow this case. One of the inquiries looks to see if Egrant is Dr Muscat but even so it is already proved that both Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi had an account in Panama and yet the government did not hold any inquiry about them.

Dr Busuttil said the party is keeping a close watch on all allegations that votes were bought. Every allegation is being followed and the patrty is putting all the pieces together to get an overall picture. Replies to parliamentary questions are providing further information about the hundreds of promotions and jobs handed out. In Gozo it is alleged that some 1,000 jobs werer handed out. One must remember that Giovanna Debono's husband was arraigned in court and Mrs Debono's political career cut short on allegations of corruption. The case has not been concluded yet. So what should be done about thousands of jobs, promotions handed out?

In Parliament the government is treating the Opposition as if it were small children. It queried the meaning of sponsorships when it was asked about them.

Dr Busuttil gave a solemn commitment that PN will reverse all such actions by this government, will compensate those hit for the money they lose and ensure justice triumphs in the end. The names of people who have suffered uinder Labour will be written in a special register and they will be fully compensated.