The pro-life movement Gift of Life yesterday presented MPs from both sides of the House of Representatives with a petition signed by 36,010 people wishing to have the law against abortion entrenched in the Constitution.
By means of the petition, the signatories are asking MPs to agree to amend article 33(1) of the Constitution, which currently reads: “No person shall intentionally be deprived of his life save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence under the law of Malta of which he has been convicted”.
The Gift of Life petition requests MPs to agree to change the article, to instead read: “No person shall intentionally be deprived of his life from conception”.
A small group of pro-life activists, led by Gift of Life director Paul Vincenti presented the signatures to four MPs – Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, Nationalist MPs Michael Axiak and Franco Galea, and Labour MP Anglu Farrugia – during a media briefing in the courtyard of the Grandmaster’s Palace in Valletta. Labour MP Jose Herrera had also planned to be there, but did not make it in time for the presentation.
Addressing journalists, Mr Vincenti expressed satisfaction that 40 of the 65 MPs have also signed the movement’s presentation, and said he hoped that the proposed amendment would be approved before the forthcoming general election.
The MPs said the petition would be tabled as soon as the signatures were verified, following which the discussion regarding the proposed amendment would be able to begin.
Mr Vincenti said the proposed amendment was intended to “defend the country from the scourge that is destroying the rest of the world”.
Asked to comment, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said he did not want to give this issue a political slant. He said he could not guarantee that the proposed amendment would be approved, as two-thirds of all MPs would be required to vote in favour of entrenchment.
Thirteen MPs from each side of the House, including the leaders of each party, have not yet signed the pro-life petition, so another four MPs would be required to sign for the amendment to be approved, should this reflect the way a two-thirds majority would be obtained.
Asked why the value of life was not given as much importance when it came to other issues like safety in fireworks factories, Dr Borg said: “My intention is to defend life in any situation, and promote a culture in favour of life. We are awaiting a report from the Pyrotechnics Commission regarding recommendations on safety at fireworks factories”.