Parliament approves George Vella’s appointment, thanks President for her work

Parliament has approved the nomination of George Vella as the tenth President of the Republic, while thanking outgoing President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca for her work over the last five years.

Addressing Parliament, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat started by saying that all the names mentioned in the run up to Vella’s nomination were worthy of the post.

He stressed that he did not believe in judging a person on the basis of their party rather than their beliefs, a mistake he said both sides of the House had made such a mistake in the past.

“In the George Vella’s case, I have no doubt he is the best person to be our country’s head of state at this particular moment,” he said. 

Muscat insisted that he could think of few people who had spent as much time in politics as Vella, about who there had never been any doubts.

“He was in front line politics, he was deputy Prime Minister, he was my Foreign Minister and when you consider everything, no matter how hard you try, you can’t find one occasion where he had not conducted himself with integrity,” he said.

He said Vella had a strong sense of duty and was a firm believer in public service and in being there for the people. “No doubt this is a result of his upbringing, which saw him start from humble beginnings to become a doctor and a reference point for many people from the south of Malta, at the dry docks and at Air Malta.”

He recounted how Vella had expressed his disappointment at no longer being able to open his clinic and meet people upon becoming minister in 2013.

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An expert in Mediterranean affairs and the middle-east, Muscat said, Vella’s presidency would follow on that of Guido de Marco.

Muscat said he was proud to say that Vella had been one of the people who had believed in him and who had guided him throughout his political career.

Finally, he said that while others might have immediately jumped at the opportunity to become President, Vella had taken a great deal of convincing.

A voice for the vulnerable

Turning to outgoing President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Muscat like her predecessors, she had come from the political arena but had succeeded in rising above partisan politics and uniting the country. 

Outgoing president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca

He said that when give years ago he had nominated Coleiro Preca, many had told him that the Labour Party was losing one of its strongest MPs. He said that while it was true that this had been a loss for the government, it was for the benefit of the country.

The country, he said, had been greatly enriched by Coleiro Preca and her work. “She was the voice of causes and people who normally find themselves in a minority, if not alone,” he said, adding that she had never shied away from speaking up, even if this meant criticizing the government.

Coleiro Preca, he said, had been instrumental in, among other things, giving children a voice, and in bringing issues that affected them to the fore.

Muscat said he was convinced that Coleiro Preca would continue to impact people’s lives through her work at the Foundation for Social Wellbeing.

READ MORE: PD will boycott parliamentary vote set to approve George Vella as president

President should be elected by two-thirds majority

Opposition leader Adrian Delia said that while Vella was worthy of the role, the PN believed that the president should be elected by a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

He said this was not to be viewed as a lack of respect towards Vella, but rather something that needed to be done for the country.

Delia said that in the coming days he would be presenting a constitutional amendment that would to this effect. 

The PN leader said the was convinced of Vella’s stature and moral fibre, irrespective of his political beliefs. “When it comes to beliefs and morals which could be the biggest test for our country, I am convinced George Vella will be able to carry this responsibility.”

Delia also thanked Coleiro Preca and commended her for rising above partisan politics. 

“I also had no doubt that the cabinet had lost a strong voice to protect the small and the weak at a time the government needed it most,” he said “I had many occasions to speak with the president over the past two years...I was always struck by her ability to listen.”