The people of Malta have started voting in a referendum on whether or not to introduce divorce on the mainly catholic island.
The Mediterranean island of 400,000 people is the only country in Europe, apart of the Vatican, that does not allow divorce.
A member of the ruling centre-right Nationalist Party, Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, shocked his own party in July last year when he presented a bill in parliament for the introduction of a form of divorce.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi is strongly against divorce but lacks room for manoeuvre because his government only has a one-seat majority in parliament.
However, he eventually decided that since no mention of divorce was made before the last election, the people's mood must be judged in a referendum.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat says he is strongly in favour of divorce, even if he is 'the last man standing', but some of his own party are against it .
'The divorce referendum is a vote for modernity and an opportunity for those whose marriage has broken down to be able to start afresh,' Mr Muscat said on Thursday, the last day of campaigning.
For Mr Gonzi, however, divorce offers 'no solutions'.
'We have to help people whose marriage has broken down, but we also have to help couples prepare better for marriage so that marriages do not break down and the value of an indissoluble marriage is bequeathed to the young,' Mr Gonzi said.
The vote is seen as a test of the influence of the Catholic Church in a country where 72% of people still say they go to Mass on Sundays.
Nearly all marriages between Maltese are held at the altar.
Although marriage breakdowns, cohabitation and children born out of wedlock have risen sharply, couples at present may only legally separate, without having the right to remarry.
Marriage annulments are granted very rarely by a church tribunal in a process that lasts several years.
Opinion polls suggest the result could go either way, with 40% of the electorate still undecided. The result will be known tomorrow afternoon.
