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In his first televised interview and only second one with a newspaper the President of the Republic Dr Fenech Adami talks of his decision to become President, of his interest in bridging with the Labour Opposition and of the future, Saviour Balzan reports
I make a mental note before we start, Edward not Eddie.
 Protocol demands one uses his full name and there are times when I love protocol.
The last time I interviewed Eddie as Prime Minister was a day before the 8 March referendum in 2003. This time he is President but his profile over the last eight months has been far from exalted.
When I interviewed him then the key question was simple, direct and clinical.
Can we afford to stay out of Europe?
His stereotyped answer was emotive, convincing and brief.
This time round, I had to be subtle, less direct and polite.
But the first question, was the expected one.
Why did he accept to be the President?
" I had every intention of retiring from politics at 70. I told the Prime Minister (Dr Gonzi) that if there was a need for me to become President I would, but I asked him to look for another person.
"I urged him to find a substitute."
He goes on to say that Dr Gonzi approached a suitable candidate but the person declined.
I juggle with the question, whether that other person was Gorg Abela, but I retreat and fail to ask the question.
"Dr Gonzi did not find a substitute, and the date was fast approaching and I therefore accepted."
I emphasise that his decision was a controversial one.
"I prefer to describe my appointment as something that led to a debate, rather than a controversy.
He continues.
"This is not the first time that a Prime Minister has become the President, it has happened in Slovenia, France and elsewhere.
"It is not an incompatible decision."
The President concedes that in the Maltese context, it may be ‘problematic’ but then we always find problems when decisions are taken in Malta.
He continues by saying there should be no problem for a Prime Minister or a leader of the Opposition to become President of the Republic and concludes by intimating that if he had not taken up the post of President he would have let many people down.
How does the President keep himself abreast of political developments?
"The Prime Minister has an obligation to inform the President of important issues affecting the country from time to time. He does this every three weeks. But the same obligation does not fall upon the leader of the Opposition.
"I am aware that the reactions to my appointment as President from the Labour Opposition were not exactly warm. I would like to see formal meetings with the leader of the Opposition. I will not give up on bridging with the Opposition."
He argues that the problems are more psychological than anything else.
"I know that as a politician I took decisions that could have irritated some people."
I ask him about the priorities of the President but he misunderstands the question and talks about the national interest and about the need to bring the social partners together.
"I augur that next year the social pact will be achieved and that all the parties will seek consensus."
Would he intervene personally in such a matter?
"I do not see the President intervening directly in such matters."
I quiz him over the idea of a second republic.
"I do not see the need for a second republic, there are aspects which need changing in the Constitution such as the reference to superpowers, but that does not call for a totally new Constitution."
What about electoral reform?
"16.6 per cent of the electorate can theoretically be disenfranchised. We need to look at the reports that have been drawn up on the subject, but I still believe the single transferable system is the correct one. We need a system which is just to the electorate."
How can he kick start discussions on such a sensitive subject?
"I am for intimate discussion, tête à tête type of discussions. Unfortunately I have not had this téte à téte with the Opposition, but I look forward to this.
"I can understand there are those who may have prejudices but I am capable and I can be objective."
I ask him about the importance of retaining Roman Catholicism in the Constitution in the light of a changing Maltese society.
"The Constitution recognises that the majority of the Maltese are Roman Catholics and that the prevalent religion is Roman Catholicism. It obliges the State to ensure that religion is taught in State schools. Christianity is moulded in the Maltese character."
"I always insist on the high moral ground and I sincerely believe that these principles make us better citizens."
He insists on the need of the family to remain intact.
Was he aware of the high number of separation cases and that the family unit as we knew it no longer existed.
"Yes I am, but it does not mean that we should not work for the family to return to its former self. I recognise that family breakdowns are on the increase but that does not mean it is right.
"Values are not something abstract. Christian values help us to be better citizens."
I turn to Europe and the EU, Fenech Adami put Malta in Europe, it was a mission, his mission.
What about the high expectations of the Maltese public following EU membership?
"I can understand the people on this one."
But I insist, would we have a voice if we had stayed out?
He talks as if I need convincing on the merits of Europe.
"We can be there together with 25 other nations and influence decisions and say ‘no’ with the same weight as the bigger nations."
Talking about the EU, it was very difficult to distinguish between Eddie Prime Minister and Edward the President.
"We have not started to have a taste of the financial package. This is a process, where we have to learn how to have a voice and that does not depend on the Prime Minister and the ministers, but also on civil society."
I point out to him that there is much concern about the underclass or better still the lower classes that are growing.
"The preoccupation is genuine, if the people do not feel that we are moving forward then we are facing problems. The State should ensure that the decisions taken do not impinge on the underprivileged."
Trailing on, he talked about pensions and underlined that the current pension regime was not sustainable and that a solution had to be found.
"We must remove our prejudices and enter into a serious discussion and find the right solutions. The lower classes should not be made to suffer and those that have the means should shoulder the burden."
I come back to the standard question about whether the President should have more executive powers.
"I do not see an executive President and our Republican Constitution does not think of such a Presidency.
"If we had to have a President with executive powers we would have to look into the way the President is chosen.
"The President has powers that come into play in exceptional circumstances.
"Otherwise he has to normally base his decisions on the Prime Minister’s advice.
"If there is a conflict and that had happened in the past, the President would have to face the consequences. It has never gone that far."
What about political party cohabitation? Can he imagine a scenario which ensures that the Presidential candidate finds it origins from the Opposition party.
"I would agree only if it is not imposed. It could happen, and could be a possibility after the next election," he muses interestingly.
I put it to him that relations between him and Alfred Sant are problematic and his reply is somewhat captious: "My relationship with Alfred Sant is good but we have not formalised it, it does not exist in other words. I hope I will be capable of building such a relationship."
What does he see as the priorities for the government in 2005?
"The government needs to work for stability and avoid confrontation."
Is this a veiled rebuke? If it was he mops up the tame reprimand with a disclaimer.
"Governments need to take decisions that are made in the interest of the country. I trust that the government will take decisions in the national interest and it will find the co-operation it needs."
Based on an interview screened this week on Smash TV for the
programme Int X’tahseb
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