2014 (4): Mario de Marco’s ‘biggest disappointment’ in politics

Albert Galea Sunday, 21 June 2026, 08:30 Last update: about 23 days ago

Excerpt from interview given by former Nationalist Party deputy leader and MP Mario de Marco

This legislature featured what Mario de Marco describes as "one of my worst times in politics."

"If I had to answer as to what my biggest internal personal disappointment, from a political view, was, it would be the stand we had taken then," de Marco said.

He is referring to the PN's decision to abstain on the vote on the Civil Union Bill in 2014. The PN had abstained in that vote.

De Marco said that he was not only in favour of the Bill at the time, but had even suggested that the name be changed from Civil Union to marriage. "If we are giving them all the rights of marriage, then we should have the decency to call it a marriage," he said.

In the end though there were diverging views within the parliamentary group and that prompted the party to decide to abstain rather than go for a free vote. De Marco said that with hindsight, allowing a free vote would have likely been a better option.

"I will never forget walking out of Parliament into St George's Square and facing the crowds who rightly so expressed their severe disappointment in us," he said. Parliament at the time was held in the Presidential Palace next to St George's Square in Valletta.

"Something like that lives in you for the rest of your life," he said.