Malta votes 'Yes' in divorce referendum

[Gerald]

Malta has voted "Yes" in a non-binding referendum on legalising divorce, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has conceded, local media report.

Almost three-quarters of the electorate voted on Saturday on whether divorce should be introduced in Malta.

A majority Catholic country, Malta is the only EU country not to allow divorce.

Figures from the electoral commission late on Saturday showed turnout was 72%, the Times of Malta reports.

"Even though the result is not what I wished for, now it is our duty to see that the will of the majority is respected," Dr Gonzi said in a televised speech.

Dr Gonzi, who campaigned against the introduction of divorce, has said it is now up the parliament to enact a law legalising the dissolution of marriage on the island.

The Catholic Church, which is very influential in the archipelago, had also supported a "No" vote during the campaign.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13588834


Note: 29 May 2011 Last updated at 11:02 GMT

[Gerald]

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/8908/malta02.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/146/malta02.jpg/)

[Schroeder]

Strange that this didn't violate some EU laws. I mean they can tell us how to run our finances and that we have to release dangerous criminals from custody and give us sh!tloads of anti discrimination rules and then they allow a member country to tell people that they have to stay married even if they have begun to hate each other?:o

[Gerald]

Right......the whole sh!t smells rotten, :doh:

[Betonov]

I wanna se some ads from the other side, should be... amusing:DL

[Tribesman]

Strange that this didn't violate some EU laws.
Is that inviting a Skybird rant?:rotfl2:

allow a member country to tell people that they have to stay married even if they have begun to hate each other?
You will find that it comes down to finance and property, you can have annulments and legal seperation but when it comes to money the people writinging the laws they may have a tendancy to dig their heels in to protect their own interests.

I know many people rue the legalalisation of divorce over here and it did give rise to the "frontage" element in some people looking for "marriage".

[Gerald]

http://img811.imageshack.us/img811/8353/youngwomenwalkpastab007.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/811/youngwomenwalkpastab007.jpg/)

A billboard reading 'Christ Yes, Divorce No' in Sliema, Malta.

[Tribesman]

A billboard reading 'Christ Yes, Divorce No' in Sliema, Malta.
Waht would Jesus do:har:

[Gerald]

http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/2526/jesusthumpsup1t.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/696/jesusthumpsup1t.jpg/)

[Torplexed]

Waht would Jesus do:har:

Going by that billboard apparently he can make chicks turn their head. :D

[antikristuseke]

I am more interested in the girls in front of the billboard than religious ----tards trying to impose their chosen morality upon everyone else without any other justification than that their holy book suposedly demands it.

[Gerald]

I am more interested in the girls in front of the billboard than religious ----tards trying to impose their chosen morality upon everyone else without any other justification than that their holy book suposedly demands it. "I am more interested in the girls in front of the billboard than"....I also