Opposition Leader Adrian Delia maintained the Nationalist Party (PN) “will have a stand” on the proposed amendments IVF.
Last week, Health Minister Chris Fearne announced the government will be proposing embryo freezing, however it is being tied to forced anonymous adoption of any remaining embryos to other couples or individuals. The amendments to the 2012 IVF law also propose the introduction of gamete donation and non-commercial surrogacy.
The first reading was presented in Parliament, while a debate was supposed to take place last Wednesday, however it was postponed to discuss allegations about Economy Minister Chris Cardona. Whether for or against, many have remarked that the parliamentary process for these amendments has been markedly faster when compared with other legal amendments brought before the House.
Last Sunday, in a radio interview, Delia announced that he would be giving MPs a free vote on the issue. This means PN MPs are empowered to vote based on their personal positions rather than all MPs voting in the same way, with one voice.
PN proponents have mixed views about the free vote, with some arguing that it is more democratic as it does not force MPs with diverging views to vote against their conscience, others criticise the move as it does not show unity or clarity for the party’s vision for Malta.
Media stories had been published about a highly contentious PN executive committee meeting where the IVF amendments where discussed internally. Asked to clarify his reasons for allowing a free vote, and to elaborate on his decision to vote against the proposed amendments, Delia replied:
“There are three main concepts in this law, which should be amending the embryo protection, so the law should be about protecting human life. It changes what we referred to as the parenting couple, to an individual. It creates the freezing of embryo per se and decriminalises surrogacy.
“When we were discussing the referendum on spring hunting, we took months and people discussed and then people decided. Why three days? Is there a reason why the public consultation is not widespread? Why people aren’t allowed? That is completely unexplainable.”
Delia was referring to the three-day period the PN were awarded between the government’s IVF amendments were made public to when they were presented in Parliament.
“As a matter of fact, I said that I am in favour of life, I said that we [the PN] would do everything to assist those wanting to have children and also explained how, but not by destroying human life.
“In summer I said where there are issues of morality and ethical issues, I would give a free vote, per principle. I am sticking to that. It does not mean that the party won’t have a stand, mine is crystal clear, and the party will have a stand. I had specifically mentioned issues of embryo freezing and surrogacy as issues I will be giving a free vote on.”