Saturday, 10th May 2008 - 10:15CET
A bitter sweet day for the Fenech Adami family
Final farewell for Anton Tabone
Today's state opening of Parliament had deep personal significance for two veteran politicians.
For President Eddie Fenech Adami, today marks the last time he will ever enter the House of Representatives in an official capacity.
But it will be a bitter sweet occasion. As he leaves, he will 'hand the baton' to his son Beppe, for whom today marks the start of a parliamentary career.
Although he will not return to the House after today's ceremony, Dr Fenech Adami in his role as President will remain part of Parliament which, in terms of the Constitution, is composed of the President and a House of Representatives.
The President, among other functions, appoints the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. He also recommends to the House consideration of financial legislation, such as the Budget. Importantly, no Bill can become law before the President signs his assent.
Dr Fenech Adami was co-opted to Parliament in 1969 following the death of Nationalist MP George Caruana. He was returned from every subsequent general election and became the most successful candidate in terms of first count votes. He resigned from the House in 2004 to become President. His term expires in a year's time.
Today's event also marks the final farewell for Anton Tabone, the outgoing Speaker.
He was also the ‘father of the House' having been the last of the MPs elected for the first time in 1966.
Mr Tabone was elected from Gozo in every subsequent election except for 1998, but even then, remained a member of the House after having been elected Speaker. He was successful in the general elections of 2003 and did not contest the last elections.
The longest serving members of the House are now the new Speaker, Louis Galea and Labour MPs Joe Debono Grech and Karmenu Vella, elected for the first time in 1976.
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Comments
How dare the people criticise EFA.
We all know the both have wanted the best for the country and succeeded in their own ways.
The previous four especially Sir Anthony Mamo served the country well, but since you took such exception to my praise of the last four Presidents to the exclusion of their predecessors, I would also like to mention that I remember Miss Agatha Barbara as Minister of Education as a student at the Lyceum.
I will not go any further than that, and that is not because of any lapsus, it is just out of respect for the dead.
His tenure saw the national debt skyrocket. Nepotism was not eradicated under his tenure, only made more subtle. The media though 'free' under his reign, government media outlets can hardly be claimed to be unbiased. Government contracted works always went way over budget, and were constantly given to the same individual contractors.
Even though he managed to get us into the EU, at what price did this occur? We are suffering as we speak from being lumped with a search and rescue zone a hundred time bigger than the size of our country. The removal of protective levies has dealt a huge blow to local food and beverage manufacturers, with several notable countries downsizing or shutting down completely. What with our rush into adopting the euro, all local industry is suffering from the huge rises in this currency with respect to other countries. Furthermore even the much trumpeted generics pharmaceutical industry will be dealt a huge blow following 2015, when our local patent situation will come in line with the rest of the EU (the favourable patent situation is the reason why their was such a boom in this industry in the first place, as companies could develop new generics of drugs years before their actual patent expired).
He was the only person capable of defeating Labour and brought Malta out of the Socialist Dictatorship.
I voted for the first time in 1987 and I am proud to say that yes I voted for him for the first time in that election and NEVER LOOKED BACK.
Thanks Eddie, Thanks for everything.
Pluralism of media.
Free trade.
Liberalisation of markets.
Decentralisation.
Peoples participation - Local councils,
Removal of restrictions to enter University - Education for all.
EU membership.
All the above.... and more was created after Dr.Eddie Fenech Adami became Prime minister in 1987.
Dr.Fenech Adami deserves credit for being a man with a vision. A man whose determination and drive transformed that vision into reality for the benefit of us Maltese.
A man who, although having suffered physical damage together with his family never uttered a word of hate towards his opponents.
A man who suffered character assassination and is still suffering it today but never gives up.
Dr.Fenech Adami is a man who lead the people to understand that democracy is also based on values of solidarity towards each other.
Who is infallible on this earth? We are all humans and we all do mistakes.
Dr Fenech Adami can be considered as a statesman because.... A politician thinks of the next election - A statesman, of the next generation.
Will just mention them to jog Mr. Martinelli 's memory and possibly , for history's sake avoid any further lapsuses;
Sir Anthony Mamo, truly loved and respected. A true President that brought unity amongst the Maltese.
Dr. Anton Buttigieg. A Lover of nature, Poet, and promoter of all that is Maltese
Ms Agatha Barbara , with a prison record for defending human rights, first woman in parliament, first woman to hold a Ministerial post and first woman to occupy such a position
Pawlu Xuereb also deserves a mention, even though he was not given the honour. A truly noble statemen who will also go down nobly in the history of the Maltese islands.
Hopefully and it would be rightly so, history will just judge Malta's Presidents not on being the best , which could just be a biased opinion like Mr. Martinelli’s , but who rightly symbolised the Maltese Nation and was a symbol of unity, integrity and statesmanship.
By the way, is it not somewhat premature to bid Dr. Fenech Adami farewell?
EFA is the father of democracy in Malta and along with Prof. deMarco the inspiring force for joining the EU, besides being a superb politician.
His tenure as President has been exemplary and he has been probably the most accessible President, taking part in many charitable events, besides innumerable State official duties.
History will judge him as one of the best Presidents ever!
Am setting a countdown timer... till I can finally and truly say 'Good riddance!'
I, too, have been around, and yes, Mintoff is the most 'popular statesman' from Malta known to foreigners - the same as they knew about Ceaucescu of Romania, etc .... that is, for the wrong reasons!
Nobert
Dr Fenech Adami was a man with a vision, a man with a dream and great aspirations for Malta and the Maltese and he has lived to see his dreams fulfilled: seeing Malta become a full and equal member of the European Union. To this day, this greatest of Maltese politicians
still contributes enormously to Malta and the Maltese and while it will be a sad day for me to see Dr Fenech Adami retiring, I know he does this knowing that he leaves Malta in much better shape and form than the country was when he took over from the inept Socialists.
I am sorry to say , I cannot ever do that to the present President of Malta. The way he ousted Dr G Borg Olivier from Capo I would never justify. Nor will I justify the way he behaved after the 1981 General Elections. He should shoulder part of the blame for the terrible situation after that election.
He owes the general public an apology for the untruths he said during most election campaigns he was in. He should also shoulder most of the responsibilities for the discriminations that took place when he was PM. His adminstrations were found guilty of such discrimations and still hundreds who suffered such political discriminations are still crying for justice.
His political dishonesty climaxed on the eve of a general election when he did not say the truth about Dr A Sant to kill Dr A Sant's integrity and honesty. He was later found guilty in court but to this day he never apologised to the electorate for such behaviour.
One can find ways to forgive but one can never forget.