Arguing that divorce eliminates all chances of a couple’s reunion, Bernard Grech, spokesman of Moviment Żwieġ Bla Divorzju, yesterday said that all children would want their parents to reunite, unless the same children had been abused.

Dr Grech was addressing a press conference together with Anna Vella yesterday afternoon, on the need to place children’s interests first. The movement’s chairperson Andrè Camilleri did not participate in the press conference, which was the first following the group’s launch. Other activities of the group included a business breakfast last week, but no questions from journalists were allowed.

Replying to a question by The Malta Independent whether the status quo was fair for children from new relationships after marriages had broken down and couples moved on, Dr Grech said that if the Bill listed particular circumstances like the case mentioned and domestic violence, he would be speaking differently.

“The proposal we are discussing does not just refer to these cases. If it did, I may be speaking differently,” Dr Grech said.

“List the exceptions, don’t rush, don’t stamp your feet, stop saying this law is perfect and let’s talk,” he added.

“You are now voting for every circumstance, so limit them and be more prepared in what you’re proposing,” he further noted.

In reply to a supplementary question, Dr Grech said that if a ‘Yes’ vote passes, he wanted to focus a lot on assistance to families.

The movement said the pro-divorce group Iva għad-Divorzju, Iva għaż-Żwieġ was deceiving the public and was wrong when saying children were being exploited by the ‘No’ campaigners. To the contrary, it felt children were being “used and abused” when they were described as “bastards” (bgħula) in the pro-divorce billboards.

During the same press conference, Dr Vella gave figures of perceptions among Maltese people outlined in a survey the ‘No’ movement commissioned and which was carried out by Misco International in March.

A total of 71% of the persons interviewed believed the introduction of divorce will negatively affect children.

Just over 54% or the interviewees said the divorce law will negatively impact families while 8% said it affects them positively. Some 38% were uncertain.

Another 46% believed divorce will negatively impact society while 9% thought it will be positive.

Moreover, 75% of Maltese people felt young people were not prepared enough for marriage.

It also transpired that when the survey was held two months ago (when the referendum campaign was still in its inception), 30% of interviewees did not have a clear idea of divorce and thought divorced persons could remarry civilly and under the Catholic Church. Another 10% thought divorcees could not remarry.

Dr Vella insisted these figures showed the parliamentary motion against using public funds was wrong and resulted in lack of information.

The survey showed people were very preoccupied with the effects of divorce especially on children. The movement therefore wanted to help put this worry on the national agenda

Dr Grech added that although children also suffer when their parents separate, divorce has worse effects.

In the past, health minister Joe Cassar, a psychiatrist by profession and Dr David Cassar, a consultant psychiatrist, both spoke on the matter publicly.

The latter, who is also participating in a television clip, said that in the majority of separation cases couples can get back together.

Dr Grech said that from personal experience, he could understand that separated persons did their best not to expose their children to their ex’s new partner.

Although no survey was held on the matter and he could not give percentages, he noted that in four out of five separation contracts he had, one or both partners included a clause to hinder an ex from introducing a partner to their children. However, he did not go into detail of the kind of advice he gave and whether he suggested such a clause to his clients.

“Such clauses in contracts cannot be safeguarded with the introduction of divorce,” he insisted.

For this to happen though, a court would have to go through the separation contract as conditions would have been imposed by a judge.

He also pointed out that in the 16 years he has been practising as a lawyer, nine couples got back together and their relationships lasted.

Dr Grech told off a PBS journalist who asked for the group’s reaction on the mock voting process held at a primary school and a question in the religion O-Level exam held last Saturday. Dr Grech said he expected a question on the real issue from a PBS journalist. These were minor issues compared to the real divorce concern, he said.