Auberge de Castille hosted two prime ministers yesterday as Lawrence Gonzi was sworn in as Prime Minister just after Eddie Fenech Adami handed in his letter of resignation to President Guido de Marco.

Within just over half an hour, Dr Fenech Adami left Castille for the last time as Prime Minister and Dr Gonzi walked into his new office just before noon.

Staff at the Office of the Prime Minister lined both sides of the internal staircase of Castille to bid farewell to Dr Fenech Adami.

Accompanied by his wife Mary, his personal assistant Richard Cachia Caruana, private secretary Peter Portelli and staff from the Prime Minister's secretariat, Dr Fenech Adami walked out to be embraced and cheered by a small crowd who gathered at the steps of Castille.

Some were seen wiping away tears as a red-eyed Dr Fenech Adami was driven away to the Palace, where the same scenes repeated themselves.

"The moment I have been contemplating has finally arrived," were the first words Dr Fenech Adami told the President.

Prof. de Marco then read the three-sentence letter of resignation which he accepted.

Dr Fenech Adami thanked the President for the cooperation he had shown and, in a short speech, Prof. de Marco thanked Dr Fenech Adami and his family, particularly his wife Mary.

"We all believe in Malta. We want our country to be better and Dr Fenech Adami did his best to improve it," Prof. de Marco said.

The President augured Dr Fenech Adami success and hoped he would continue "advising the country".

"His 35 years experience in parliament, 15 of which were as prime minister, are records which are hard to break," Prof. de Marco said.

A few minutes later, Dr Gonzi, accompanied by his wife Kate, his three children David, Mikela and Paul, and his parents Louis and Inez, entered the ambassadors' room at the Palace where he was sworn in as the new Prime Minister.

A beaming Dr Gonzi was visibly moved and in a short speech thanked his predecessor.

"Luck and God placed me on the driving seat at a historic moment. I look ahead with courage. We have a special opportunity and it is up to us to show we are able to unite and make the most of the opportunities that lie ahead," Dr Gonzi said.

"I love my country and believe in it," he said as he thanked his wife and parents, who nodded contentedly.

"I never expected to see my son Prime Minister. I never had any reason to complain about him. He was always an ideal son," his father said when asked for his reaction.

Prof. de Marco recalled the time Dr Gonzi was one of his students at university and he had supervised his thesis. "Who could have foreseen that I would be President when you were sworn in as Prime Minister," Prof. de Marco remarked.

"Dr Fenech Adami has left you a legacy which I am sure you will see grow and evolve. Continue living and practising your sound principles," the President told Dr Gonzi.

From the Palace, Dr Gonzi went to Castille, where he was greeted by the assembled crowd as well as by one of his right hand men, Edgar Galea Curmi, the head of the civil service Joseph Grima and employees at the OPM, who again lined the stairs to greet the new Prime Minister.

Shortly after, Dr Gonzi started seeing the ministers and parliamentary secretaries who were later sworn in to form the new Cabinet.

The exercise lasted until shortly before 6 p.m.

Among the first to be called was John Dalli, while Helen D'Amato was the last person seen leaving Castille.

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