Malta’s president says he will resign rather than sign abortion bill

According to the Times of Malta, President George Vella has said he is prepared to resign rather than sign new abortion legislation into law. Under Malta’s governmental system, the president does not have veto authority equivalent to that of the United States president, and he cannot simply send the bill back to the parliament. However, bills must be signed by the president before they become law. 

According to the Times: 

The president’s signature is the final stage of the legislative process and no law can come into force without it. The president’s refusal to sign a bill approved by the democratically elected parliament has never happened in Malta and it would create a constitutional crisis.

The constitution actually does not give the president much of a choice, since it lays down that: “When a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall without delay signify that he assents.” 

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The legislation in question would amend Malta’s current abortion law, which provides complete protection for preborn children, to allow abortions in cases where the mother’s mental or physical health is deemed to be in danger. Proponents of the legislation argue that this would not legalize abortion within Malta. However, opponents point to countries where similar exceptions have opened the door to de facto abortion on demand, like the UK and the U.S., and warn that this bill would have the same effect in Malta. 

National Party MP Adrian Delia has urged President Vella not to sign the legislation, but not to resign, either. He argued that the bill does not respect Malta’s constitution, of which the president is the custodian.

“Stand by the people and act according to your conscience and beliefs, which reflect the principles of the Constitution. Do not allow yourself to be an accomplice by absence, and do us proud. This is a moment of truth. It is a moment of choice and not the time to flee. Giving in now would lose us our soul,” Delia said. 

President Vella is a doctor by profession, and and has previously stated that he opposes abortion without exceptions because there are “no half measures to murder.” He continued, “You have either killed or not killed, there can be no half-death. I’m very clear, there are no ifs and buts.”