President Abela on seven-day private holiday in Italy

President George Abela and his wife, Margaret, this morning left Malta for a seven-day private visit to Italy. A statement from the Office of the President announced the visit early this morning.

17 August 2010, 12:00am
by Charlot Zahra

1 min read

It is not known whether Abela’s departure today was scheduled or whether he had to postpone his holiday till after the end of the State Funeral for former President Guido de Marco yesterday afternoon.

The OPR statement explained how they would be returning to Malta on Monday 23 August 2010.

In the meantime, former Speaker Anton Tabone has been appointed Acting President in the interim.

Last week, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife Kate had to cut their private visit to Germany short after the de Marco’s death last Thursday at 4.21 pm, at the age of 79.

They landed late on Sunday evening, enough in time for Gonzi and his wife to pay their last respects to the deceased former President on Monday morning as well as to attend for the Funeral Mass yesterday afternoon.

In fact, among other politicians who had to cut their holidays short, there were Speaker Michael Frendo and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said.