George Abela says president should be free of political partisanship

Bringing an end to his five-year term as the President of the Republic, George Abela this evening called on the house of representatives to implement a constitutional reform to “strengthen” the role of president, underlining the need for the president to have greater political autonomy.

Addressing a dinner organised in his honour organised by the prime minister, Abela said president-designate Marie Louise Coleiro Preca’s “social soul” would breathe a new life in the presidency and that she would inspire national unity.

Social solidarity minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who earlier this month was officially nominated as Malta’s next president, is set to be sworn in as president when Abela’s term ends on April 4.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had previously described Coleiro Preca’s appointment as “one step closer to the birth of the second Republic,” and insisted that the presidency would be given a “new purpose” – a stand advocated by President George Abela.

“A constitutional reform is needed to strengthen the role of the president. It is important for the president to be free of political partisanship and to be independent from the executive. The president must be afforded greater resources and tools to truly inspire national unity,” Abela said.  

Flanked by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil, Abela paid tribute to attendee and former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi as in 2009, the-then Nationalist prime minister appointed George Abela as president.

Abela said Gonzi’s decision at the time was met with “scepticism”- especially since common political practice normally sees members of the governing party kicked upstairs – but Abela argued that he should be judged on his work during these last five years.

On his part, Joseph Muscat said George Abela’s term as president inspired national unity and held that the president’s role is now synonymous with solidarity.

Muscat, who previously said that Marie Louise Coleiro Preca would be the government’s “point of reference”, insisted that the presidency would remain an “instrument to unite the country.”

The prime minister also argued that Gonzi’s decision to nominate Abela as president was the correct one as now, five years after, the “absolute majority are proud of George Abela’s work as president.”

While also paying tribute to Abela, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil praised Abela for “veering off” from partisan politics and for inspiring national unity.

“The president should be a symbol of national unity and solidarity. Malta’s president should instil pride in the country and should safeguard its identity – a role championed by Abela in an exemplary fashion,” Busuttil said.

The ceremony, which was organised by the office of the prime minister, saw members of parliament, members of the judiciary, Bishops Mario Grech and Charles Scicluna and dignitaries attend.