We have finally started.

After so many twists and turns since Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando last July surprised colleagues and political adversaries alike with his Private Member’s Bill to introduce divorce, Parliament has finally started to debate a motion presented by the Labour Party that will ultimately pave the way to the holding of a referendum on 28 May.

In these last eight months, we have had both parties first saying one thing and then changing their mind. We have had two movements being set up, one in favour of divorce and the other one against. We have had people discussing the issue in newspapers, on blogs, in offices and in the street.

Now we have arrived at a crucial point.

Last Wednesday, we had the first of a number of sittings that will lead to a vote on 16 March. Everything else has been put aside as our 69 MPs share their views with the House and the rest of the country.

The Nationalist Party starts from a position against divorce. The party has taken an official stand against the concept, although there are MPs who have openly spoken against the party line. The Labour Party has preferred not to take an official stand, believing that since it is a matter of conscience, it should leave it up to the individual MPs to have an opinion in favour or against.

During Wednesday’s sitting, both Labour MP Evarist Bartolo and Education Minister Dolores Cristina spoke about the need to have a healthy, constructive and serene debate. We do hope that these words will be followed to the letter by all those who will eventually take part.

There has been a lot of confusion ever since Dr Pullicino Orlando’s move last July. People were none the wiser as both the PN and PL tried every trick in their book to take political advantage of the situation.

This should not be the case. There are people’s lives at stake here. Many have been suffering in marriages that have broken down and see divorce as a solution to their problems and a way out towards a better life, maybe a new family with a new partner.

This is probably their last chance.

As both Mr Bartolo and Mrs Cristina said, the parliamentary debate on divorce should be respectful towards the different opinions. We fortunately live in a democracy, where one and all have the liberty to speak his or her mind. In delicate matters such as personal lives, it is even more imperative that respect reigns in all that is said.

MPs should be the first to set an example.