Fenech Adami gets both ends of the stick

Eddie Fenech Adami, who is to be nominated President of Malta, had fulsome praise, and sharp criticism, showered on him yesterday by the political leaders.

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who has succeeded Dr Fenech Adami as head of the government, described his predecessor as the best choice for the country. He lived his principles, not just spoke about them, he said.

Alfred Sant, who unexpectedly sent Dr Fenech Adami into opposition in 1996, only to be trounced by him in 1998 in the wake of Dom Mintoff's shenanigans in parliament that year, described Dr Fenech Adami as the most divisive person in Malta, apart perhaps from himself.

On Friday Dr Sant told a party activity that the Labour Party parliamentary group would be voting against the government's nomination of Dr Fenech Adami as President.

But he has made clear that while opposing the nomination, the Labour Party would make a distinction between the office of President, and the person occupying that position.

The nomination, he said, was "a vulgarity".