Nope, sorry – an abrogative one is essentially a binding referendum ,on any issue, whereby the person with authority (in this case, the elected representative in parliament) abrogates, or surrenders, his legislative rights to another body – in this case the people voting in the referendum. A consultative referendum is essentially a glorified poll. Technically, parliamentarians can ignore the result of a consultative referendum. In practise, however, it is very hard to override the will expressed in even a consultative referendum, striking, as it does, at the very essence of democracy.

Let me see if I understand. Therefore, Pullicino Orlando tricked PM Gonzi into calling for a referendum on divorce, which U-turn Joseph Muscat then supported – and the morally convinced PM was convinced that the NO vote would prevail, putting an end to the whole divorce-thingy.

Nobody expected the YES vote to prevail (while I had hoped for a YES victory). The PL made no commitment to YES with their “free vote.” The PN committed themselves to the NO vote. And eventually the Church also chimed in with its public support for NO.

It seems that the political class never expected a democratic result to contradict their desired political imposition.

I wonder how long it will be before Parliament ever decides again to abrogate its constitutional responsibilities to legislate by demanding a referendum?

I also never foresaw the political disaster the PN are creating for themselves (and for the country) because PM Gonzi cannot lead according to the democratic result. Before this I had thought that the PN were more rational and less confessional than the situation now proves. I am astonished.

So, you say it was all a plot? It seems that the PN have lost the plot, their own “plot” against divorce (as well as the storyline, as the plot thickens).

Interesting analogies.

The legitimacy of the Integration referendum was questioned right from the outset, and was consistently challenged by one of the two major political parties. Yes, I agree that these “same arguments” (or similar arguments) were bandied about following that referendum. This precipitated a stand-off that was resolved only after direct rule was imposed on Malta by Great Britain.

In the Independence referendum, voters were asked a question about adopting a constitution that had already been ratified by the Legislative Assembly, and although these “same arguments” may have been trotted out at that time as well, the constitution was indeed adopted, and independence declared, in accordance with the outcome of that referendum.

We just keep missing the point: it is nothing to do with whether one agrees with divorce or not or whether the Church agrees to / condones divorce or not. These are personal / religious issues.

The essential question is whether civil divorce legislation is to be enacted. The referendum result says yes therefore MPs say yes or resign.

Nothing else has or will change. Those who wish to avail themselves of the new legislation may do so; those that do not are not forced to.

It is now time to move on and get a life.

Because what they think of as their conscience is really just memory of what they were taught in Catholic dogma classes. Their doctrine teachers obviously had no position on voting against the will of the people, so they don’t either.

‘Divorce: the prime minister calls for prudence.’

[Daphne – Foreign to what? Oh, you mean ‘not Maltese’. He is. He just doesn’t live here.]

http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/update-%E2%80%98gonzipn%E2%80%99-in-deep-political-crisis

Charles De Gaulle ” the electorate is consulted only to decide what colour to give to the tram”.

I am from Mosta, Daphne, and you echo my feelings exactly.

The election is still relatively far away but if we are going to have the same candidates I am going to be in a real quandary regarding my vote. Like you, I will vote PN again as there is no alternative.

I used to have no problem when Eddie Fenech Adami was still around because you naturally go for the party leader but since he left I have chosen Tonio Borg and Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando… and what a disappointment they turned out to be!