Winners and Losers

Now that the referendum campaign is over and we are just waiting for the results, it isi a good time to start drawing up some conclusions about the winners and losers of the whole referendum debate.

Winners

• Maltese Society: Most people will probably disagree with this. However I think that the referendum campaign and debate are one of the best things that has happened to Malta in recent years. After decades of sticking our heads in the sand with regards to issues like divorce, finally there has been some discussion and action with regards to these issues. Whatever the outcome, this is a discussion which is bound to stay with us
• Non-partisan politics: this is one of the first campaigns where there was a considerable blurring of party lines. Granted, we still got a long way to go at becoming a non-partisan society but at least it's a start.

Losers

• The Maltese Catholic Church: Spearheaded by Mgr. Grech, the no campaign by the church brought out its ugly side. We saw not the Church that seeks to help out whoever is in need with humility and passion. But we saw the power-hungry Church that is too afraid of change and of losing it's hold on Maltese society
• PN: for decades now the PN's advantage over the PL was that it projected itself as the party with the right solutions for the present and the future. During this divorce campaign, the PN forfeited it's image as the party looking forward and not backwards.