Tuesday, 9th December 2008 - 18:38CET

Muscat to suggest candidates for the presidency

Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said today that he will be submitting to the Prime Minister a list of people who should be considered for appointment to the presidency once Dr Eddie Fenech Adami’s term expires in April.

Interviewed on TVM’s Dissett, due to be broadcast this evening, Dr Muscat said the proposals he would submit in January would include men and women both from within and from outside the political scene.

Replying to questions by Reno Bugeja, Dr Muscat reiterated that he is against the proposed underground extension to the museum of St John’s Co-Cathedral but admitted he had not discussed the matter with the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, although he was prepared to do so.

Dr Muscat said Labour would continue to insist in EU fora that the government should refund all those who paid VAT on top of their vehicle registration tax for the purchase of cars, saying they had been 'robbed'. Such refunds, he said, could be staggered over a number of years.

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Comments

Karl Borg Bartolo (on 11/12/08)

I'm not interested in who will be our next President. He or she will definitely have the respect of everyone at the end of the day.

What struck me though, is Dr Muscat's positive thinking - and thus his approach - to come up with a list of potential candidates. This is truly a new style of doing politics. I hope that the Prime Minister has the will to sit down and discuss these candidates with the Leader of the Opposition. I hope to see both the PM announcing the new name, with Dr Muscat in his background. Dr Muscat's positive move deserve its praise from all.

Well done for this breath of fresh air Joseph!!

Gorg Sultana (on 11/12/08)

@ Michael Cutajar
Giovanna Debono - no way. It will be a demotion for her as she's already an Empress.

Alexander Morana (on 11/12/08)

The person who takes the office of the President of the Republic should be elected by the people. No if or buts.

I.Scicluna (on 11/12/08)

Why should refund of VAT paid on top of their vehicle registration tax for the purchase of cars be refunded in installments?

We paid this ILLEGAL tax in ONE LUMP SUM and I'd expect it to be refunded in an identical fashion.

Michael Cutajar (on 11/12/08)

Rumour has it that Giovanna Debono will be the next President.

K Tanti (on 11/12/08)

I agree that the next president needs to be someone who is not ex member of parliament or ex leader of a party. I believe Joe Sammut (ombudsman) is ideal. However I believe that next president is going to be someone who was not elected in parliament in last election.

Marlene Farrugia (on 11/12/08)

I hope Dr L. Gonzi will agree on one of the proposed candidates. It is only fair that the president should be appointed through an agreement by all political parties. This is democracy.

Joseph Schembri (on 10/12/08)

Can someone please tell me what difference it makes who the president is? In an attempt not to get this comment edited out let me put the question this way: What does the queen do for the United Kingdom (what an anachronism the phrase is...!)

Must we argue about who gets to live in San Anton in Winter and the very uncomfortable Verdala in Summer and cut ribbons to new school playgrounds in an inconspicuous dot of an island that most of the world has never heard of?

paul baldacchino (on 10/12/08)

Mr.Angelo Micallef is very wrong when he says that the President should be a political personsince this is a political appointment. The late Sir Anthony Mamo was no politician at all but we all agree that he was the most suitable person elected President so far with due respect to all the others. The fact that even Dr.Joseph Muscat is considering persons from outside the political fold, should be taken from the government as a very positve proposal.When both sides of the house are speaking of new political approach, lets start by having a non political President.

Matthew Borg (on 10/12/08)

@ Louis Ellul

"What this country needs is an apolitical person of repute who will be accepted by all and who will instil a spirit of unity in this blue/red divided country. The first name that comes to my mind is that of the learned Judge Dr Giovanni Bonello."

While I agree with you that Judge Bonello would make an excellent President of the Republic, if the Constitution serves me correctly, no member of a judiciary - past or present - can take up such a post. Before Judge Bonello took up his place at the ECHR, he was part of the Maltese judiciary, I believe, so that wouldn't be the case...

SIMON AMATO (on 10/12/08)

I AGREE WITH MIRIAM ELLUL. WHAT IS WRONG IF THIS PERSON WILL BE MR JOE SAMMUT FORMER OMBUDSMAN? THEER ARE MORE VALID PERSONS FOR THE POST OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC IRRELEVANT FROM THEIR OPINION IN POLITICS!.

Miriam Ellul (on 10/12/08)

@ Mr. Angelo Micallef
I'm sorry but that's your opinion. You make it sound very dictatorial the way you put it...... A President SHOULD be a former political person, you said.....and dictatorship doesn't have a place in our country! Why should he be so? Where is democracy and where is people's choice or the chance for others not involved in politics to be eligible? When are we going to change our ideas and give our country a new breathe? And, by the way....you got the wrong examples. I never said that he should be not aware of politics....what I mean is, that, in my opinion, he/she shouldn't be, a political figure...or involved with either parties. There is a difference between owning an opinion and involved or interested in a specific party.
One can excel in political studies but never appeared or sided blue, red ,green or whatever color may appear in the future.

Angelo Micallef (on 10/12/08)

A President should be a former political person because primarily the Presidency is a political post. Just as you don't make a plumber the head of the Computer department or an economist the head chef of a hotel the same goes for the Presidency!

Miriam Ellul (on 10/12/08)

As long as the person chosen is dedicated to the public service and honest, I think that she/he is eligible to the top post. I don't agree that he/she must have political background. The person should be of a certain high intellect and obviously must own a personal political opinion like everybody else....but this should be kept hidden from the public. I suggest that among these nominees there will be people who achieved high goals during their lives and were of service to others. People who carry or have carried lifelong commitment in their working place or in their private life. Of course these should be of a caring character....yet not a weak one.
I don't think it is healthy to our country that both government and opposition keep suggesting people from their own respective parties. This is only my humble opinion....and please do not suggest me for the post :-)

Louis Ellul (on 10/12/08)

I hope both political parties will not impose on us yet another ex-political figurehead who would be representative of half the Maltese population. What this country needs is an apolitical person of repute who will be accepted by all and who will instil a spirit of unity in this blue/red divided country. The first name that comes to my mind is that of the learned Judge Dr Giovanni Bonello.

K.M. Fiorentino (on 10/12/08)

A President MUST have a political history and background.

J Abela (on 10/12/08)

Staggerred refund ok.... imma bl-imghax ta'!

Muscat to suggest candidates for the presidency

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