Maltese shook the foundation of marriage at the referendum
Remarkably, during the height of the debate among deputies on repealing the ban on divorce, it turned out that some supporters of tradition have not been living with their legal spouses for a long time. Previously, Maltese who wished to separate had to register a divorce abroad. But it was expensive. Most often, spouses separated and started new families while remaining in their previous marriage. Now there is only one secular state left in the world where divorce is officially banned – the Philippines.
As Gazeta.Ru writes, Malta has been preparing for this step for a very long time. Even the possibility of a civil marriage without the involvement of the church appeared only in the mid-1970s. Even then, more revolutionary-minded members of parliament tried to allow divorces at least for those who did not have a church wedding, but conservatives opposed.
Now, in accordance with the law for which the majority of Maltese voted, married couples who prove that they have not lived together for four years will be able to officially divorce.