EUROPE/SPAIN - Divorce rate has rocketed since new law came into force: Family Policy Institute reports on first year

Madrid (Agenzia Fides) - In the first year of the application of the new law on divorce July 2005-2006 no less 163,444 marriages have been ended. Presenting a study by Spain’s Family Policy Institute IPF, the Institute’s president Eduardo Hertfelder, said “the new norms caused an explosion of broken marriages” because of the "elimination of a period of separation and the possibility of a unilateral” which means one of the spouses can request and obtain divorce.
The IPF report said the new law pushed faltering marriages to a swift divorce. The IPF found that since the so-called “express divorce” law went into force the number of divorces has overtaken that of separations. “The new law was presented as a way to hasten the process but the outcome is an increase in divorce" Hertfelder commented. Before the law was changed 20% of the separated couples were reconciled in the period of separation. "This new law deprives couples of the time for reflection and reconciliation, increasing conflict and pushing them to a definitive break" said Hertfelder.
The study reported that the breaking up of the family is the main problem facing Spanish married couples. For the number of divorces Spain now follows closely the United Kingdom, France and Germany. IPF proposes the following measure: correction of the 2005 divorce law; launch a national plan for young married couples; open more family counselling centres; intensify campaigns to build awareness on the importance of marriage and the family; adoption of an integral family support plan 2007-2010; elaboration of a book offering Family Guidance. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 9/10/2006; righe 24, parole 335)