Prime Minister's brother to vote in favour of divorce

Michael Gonzi, the prime minister's brother, has confirmed that he will vote Yes during the divorce debate in Parliament.

"I voted against divorce in the referendum, but following the result, my conscience is telling me to vote yes, " Dr Gonzi, a popular doctor in St Paul Bay, told timesofmalta.com.

"I spoke to my brother and he told me to go ahead and vote according to my conscience."

Meanwhile, Paul Borg Olivier, General Secretary of the Nationalist Party, has reiterated that Nationalist MPs have a free vote in Parliament, despite the PN Executive's stand against divorce.

"Nationalist MPs are free to vote yes or no or to abstain," he said in a statement. However the PN would ensure that the will of the people as expressed in the referendum result, would be respected, he said.

A number of other PN MPs have indicated they will vote yes, including David Agius, Karl Gouder, Mario de Marco, Jesmond Mugliett, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Franco Debono. Robert Arrigo, Joe Falzon, and Jean Pierre Farrugia are also expected to vote yes.

In a statement, Dr Debono said: "In full respect of the direct and unified expression of the collective will of the people in the referendum and being an elected representative of the people, I will vote yes to the Divorce Bill should a division be called."

Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt has declared he will vote against the Bill while former Parliamentary Secretary Edwin Vassallo and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono have indicated they will do likewise.