Former presidents and prime ministers to form part of President's new council

Former Presidents and Prime Ministers of Malta will form part of a new council established today under the Office of the Presidency and led by the President herself, with the aim to share their knowledge and experience for the well-being of society.

In the presidential palace this morning, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca launched the Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, aiming to produce relevant and appropriate research for the promotion of peace and unity.

The foundation will be governed by a council made up of former presidents and prime ministers, acting presidents who held the post in the past, the university rector and the director of the foundation as a secretary.

They will have a consultative function and the executive role will be held by a board of management.

"The Foundation will provide a platform for more dialogue and consultation, it will contribute to the wellbeing of society by creating the space to listen, explore and research ways to develop a more inclusive and supportive society," President Coleiro Preca said.

She added that constitutional experts Ian Refalo and Austin Bencini scrutinised the legal aspects of the foundation to ensure that everything falls within the remit of the Presidency.

In order to reach its objectives, the foundation will establish four separate entities, namely a National Institute for Childhood, an Observatory for Living with Dignity, a National Family Research Centre and a Centre for Freedom from Addiction.

Other informal entities, focusing on several aspects such as environment, childhood, arts and culture, family and the elderly, may be set up at a later date.

Coleiro Preca underlined that this is one of the ways how democracy can be effective and strengthened where every citizen may take an active role in the discussions on the wellbeing of society.