It is amazing to see how the young Opposition Leader is shifting his stand on the issue of divorce to fit his own purpose. Before this issue came up, Dr Joseph Muscat solemnly declared that he intended to put forward a private member’s Bill and allow his fellow Partit Laburista (PL) MPs a free vote.

Obviously he waited for the ideal moment. Perhaps he wanted to carry the divorce carrot in front of the 10,000 diehards that are determined to go all the way to divorce even at the expense of changing political allegiance. In this scenario the Bill in favour of divorce had to come ideally some time after the next general election. This seemed to make strategic sense but his plans were crossed by a parliamentarian from the government’s side. Obviously the PL and predominantly its leader are seeing the eggs hatching at a premature moment.

This scenario explains why Dr Muscat is feeling uneasy with the idea of a referendum on divorce being held some time soon. As a matter of fact he wishes to know how soon in order to adapt to a plan B, now that his original plot has gone down the drain. In the meantime he is trying hard to convince the divorce diehards that he is their real sole defender and that he is adamant to snatch back the banner of divorce from Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando.

For the leader of a major political party it is unflattering to sit in the second row behind a ‘Yes’ committee in favour of divorce. But on the other side he wishes to signal all his support for the suffering, poor, wretched and lonely hearts. Therefore he sent one of his most intelligent protagonists to reinforce the PL support in favour of divorce. This loyal parliamentarian had no inhibition to declare that he was out there with the ‘Yes’ group with the full consent of his leader.

But uneasiness is creeping up the back of the highest PL representatives. Once more they may be playing straight in the hands of the PN strategists. Of course the PL leader would go on drumming that his party does not wish to politicise the issue. One could only laugh at such an assertion. The issue is already politicised and the PL leader has no right to point his fingers at others.

Dr Muscat is now hammering his position and reinstating himself as the progressive politician who will ultimately open the gates to flood our shores with the divorce bonanza. He is doing this by stating that he will hold a second referendum, in case the first one fails. One clearly hears the signal to the diehards. The PL leader wants to keep their blood hot and red even after a cold defeat.

I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the PL retreats its support to the ‘Yes’ group some time soon with the pretext that it does not wish to politicise the issue. It would fit the PL plans better if the ‘Yes’ group would fail to win the first referendum. But this is the point where the leader has to rethink his position and draw a straight line. If he wishes his party to go all out in favour of divorce, then he should say it straight. PL and its supporters wish to know where they stand with their own leadership. Failing to do this would mean that the party leader is not sure whether the party ranks are close behind him on this issue.

If he continues to toy with divorce for his political purposes, then he stands to lose together with his PL. The announcement of holding a second referendum before the first one has been held is cynic and double-edged. Those who vote against divorce at a referendum would not vote for a party that threatens to hold a second referendum on the same issue. And the PN has already demonstrated its ability in exploiting the weakest moments of its opponents. Dr Joseph Muscat is manoeuvring himself towards the point of no return, a point where his PL may then wish to divorce itself from its own leader.

Agnes Debono

Kercem