Abela welcomed as next President
Former Labour deputy Leader George Abela has been welcomed as Malta's next President by most commentators who pondered the significance of his historic nomination.
The 60-year-old lawyer, who only last June lost the race for Labour leader to Joseph Muscat, will not only become the first President to enjoy the backing of both sides of the House since Anthony Mamo in 1974, but is also the country's first nominee to come from the political camp opposing the government.
"He's an ideal choice since he can rise above party politics very easily in this country where it has been difficult to go beyond it," author Oliver Friggieri said.
One of his greatest friends Lino Spiteri, who was also said to be on the list of candidates, shared similar thoughts. "It's a good decision that shows a measure of agreement between the two sides in circumstances where there is a deep division, especially because of the closeness of the election results."
He ruled out having mixed feelings as a result of a personal ambition to take up the post himself. "I don't have mixed feelings as in my mind I was never in the running and never wanted to be."
Alternattiva Demokratika also welcomed the news on the same lines with a statement (the only issued by an official body), congratulating both the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader.
While also welcoming Dr Abela's nomination, philosopher and former advisor to the outgoing President Peter Serracino Inglott said he did not view the decision to have someone from the opposing camp as an achievement.
Seeing the nomination as such would be disrespectful towards previous Presidents who, despite their affiliation with the party in government, had proven to be independent when required, he said.
Still, Dr Abela's nomination does not come without problems for both Labour and PN. PN sources said there have already been complaints about the fact that the candidate is not a moderate from the PN fold.
But perhaps the biggest challenge will come from Labour who are likely to have to deal with the protestations of the former leader and deputy leaders, Alfred Sant and George Vella, who both fell out with Dr Abela. Dr Sant would not comment when contacted yesterday, while Dr Vella could not be contacted.
The Prime Minister will be informing Cabinet officially of the decision this morning after which he will meet the parliamentary group. The Labour parliamentary group is expected to meet to discuss the nomination late this morning.
After that, the two sides are expected to release separate statements.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
Petrol price up 6c
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
23 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
J Martinelli
Jan 14th 2009, 20:44
@ James Degiorgio
"Politics apart, I like George Abela as president. I'm just sorry that he's being given a promotion simply to get him out of the way".
Nobody FORCED Dr. Abela to accept the appointment! He could have waited until knives were thrown at Joseph's back then step in as the saviour of the LP. Dr. Abela is much smarter than that and he knew that returning to the LP in a meaningful way was very risky at best. Besides, the highest honour a country can bestow on an individual seemed much more attractive than leading (eventually - maybe) some characters within the LP.
Why cannot Labour apologists not be happy that one of their own will become President on April 4 ?
Biskuttini f'halq il-hmir !
Ivan Attard
Jan 14th 2009, 18:24
Political maturity? Together everything is possible? My foot!
Political Hegemony rules in our political class here now. Strange bedfellows indeed, but you never know how far they go to outdo each other at the same things!
PN and PL have morphed into the same thing and excel at doing NOTHING but talk about 'political maturity'.
They have gone as far as to exchange their tie colours and further confirmed that there is no point of choosing one over the other. They have rendered your vote irrelevant.
G. Mangion
Jan 14th 2009, 18:22
Seeing DISSET on T.V ( l - istazzjon tas - Sena Yesterday was fantastic ( as always)
I must admit that I was not for G.A, But Dr Lino Spiteri & George, couldint have been better in there oppionions ! The Masters, in this issue, Welldone DISSET,, Keep it up !
@ Julian Caruana
dictator's were and still are those who were in power in the 70's & 80's , lol !
Dr Lawrence Gonzi Prime Minister of Malta, PAR IDEJN SODI are Simply to much , wait until his next one, its gonna be a Booommmmmbbbbaaaaaaaaa !
V Fenech
Jan 14th 2009, 17:13
PN has shown that their first interest is the party and afterwards the National Interest.
Gonzi has tried to soften his image - this was also admitted yesterday by Georg Sapiano who was discussing Gonzi's move yesterday on the National Tv Station.
Floaters have recognised this smart move by Lawrence Gonzi....
NOW CAN WE FOCUS BACK ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRISIS AND ALL THE JOBS WHICH COULD EASILY BE LOST IF THE CRISIS HAD TO HIT MALTA!
Maria Dolores Fenech
Jan 14th 2009, 17:03
@ Julian Caruana
Whatever GonziPN does, he does it with a reason. I have heared that now Dr Gonzi will try again the pairing agreement with the LP.
I don't know yet what are the exact powers of the President, but what will happen if Dr Abela (as President) does not agree with GonziPN?
James De Giorgio
Jan 14th 2009, 16:52
Well my theory is that this much hailed common ground found between Gonzi and Muscat has taken place ONLY because both stand to gain from it. The only person the nationalists are "afraid" of is George Abela, whereas the person who Muscat would most probably like to see the back of, is George Abela.
So much for political "maturity".
Politics apart, I like George Abela as president. I'm just sorry that he's being given a promotion simply to get him out of the way.
Giov DeMartino @Julian Caruana
Jan 14th 2009, 16:19
YES!!! To confuse you further. Q.E.D.
J Martinelli
Jan 14th 2009, 15:02
@ Mark Scerri
Who ever told you that the nomination of a President, who, even if a former politician, is meant to be a vote catching exercise?
The MLP was against or abstained, or criticized every nomination of a former Nationalist politician from 1987 onwards! They were against Censu Tabone's nomination, against Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, against Guido deMarco and certainly against Eddie Fenech Adami! Yet the NP won three elections and a referendum in the meantime.
Does this shoot down your theory?
Your statement regarding the LP having more qualified people for a Presidential nomination is surely meant as a joke, otherwise I say to you, with so many qualified people on the LP side, why did Joseph not come forward and nominate a couple?
Maybe he was caught sleeping at the switch?
Julian Caruana
Jan 14th 2009, 14:23
I would really like to understand the logic behind this move. In my opinion Dr Gonzi is trying to soften his image after all the latest issues, like water + elec , hunting etc etc where he came across more like a dictator .
Any one with a better reason ????
Roderick Marmara
Jan 14th 2009, 08:50
While I welcome the decision by the Maltese authorities to nominate George Abela as the next President, I still believe that a President should be democraticaly elected by the Maltese people and not political parties. All political parties should nominate their candidates during the general elections and the Maltese people should be given the opportunity to have a say on who should be the head of state.
c.camilleri
Jan 13th 2009, 16:20
@ Peter Muscat. During those horrible times you had no choice. All Malta had to obey the capo's biddings. You remember how the change to Republic came about eh. According to the same constitution any change had to have 2/3 of all the MPs plus a referendum. But every one had to bow to Dom who refused to have a referendum. So agreeing to A Mamo as President was the least that the Nats could do.
Muscat Peter
Jan 13th 2009, 10:27
@ c. camilleri .. I really hate spoonfeeding! The choice of Dr Mamo as President had the approval of both sides of Parliament ( Government and Opposition) who represented tyhe majority of the eclectorate.
So please try to understand what I meant and as I said do not jump to silly conclusions.
Anyhow let us see what is to happen rather then predict the future.
c.camilleri
Jan 12th 2009, 18:24
@ Muscat Peter. Who told you that Sir A. Mamo had the backing of the majority of the population? It seems you were not on this island at that time. Mintoff would never have had a non labourite President. And that's why he nominated Sir. Anthony as President. I cannot understand what past Presidents have done to divide the people. They are politicians like George, perhaps they devoted their life in the interests of the people while George was not much involved. So now with George as President we will love each other more and be less divided. Come on.
D Vella
Jan 12th 2009, 14:16
If it is to be Dr Abela then so be it. I wish him well.
Amongst the first priorities of a future President is to do his utmost to persuade both sides of the political divide the urgent need for the Maltese Islands to move toward a total separation of State and Religion.That would not only move this Country toward greater democracy but also go a long way to a fairer and just society based on equal rights for all.
Rita Spiteri
Jan 12th 2009, 14:05
It doesn't make any difference who the next president is going to be, in my opinion he is only there to spend my hard earned taxes just like the shipyard workers and most of the other government's officials with all their freebies.
wally vella-zarb
Jan 12th 2009, 12:56
@ Ingrid Jones-cameron
"They ruined a party for their own ambitions."
Did you ever meet Drs Sant and Vella? Evidently not because no one who knows them could reasonably accuse them of working for "their own ambitions". One might not agree with them, politically, but it is very difficult to name two others in the political arena who are more clean and honest.
mark scerri
Jan 12th 2009, 12:52
thanks Dr Gonzi for choosing a Labourite cause now you confirmed to the whole country that us labourites are much more capable than the nationalist to rule the country - but still you are not going to get my vote .
Thanks very much it was kind of you
alfred callus
Jan 12th 2009, 12:37
Dr. Abela's nomination for Presidency is definetely a brilliant choice for our country. He does not solely possess publicity but also sincere respect from a wide spectrum of our society. Definitely, this augurs well in practical terms a new way of making politics and truly a NEW beginning to what the people deserve. Abela' s sincerity, intelligence and respect are the main ingredients to make him a natural choice for presidency and in keeping in touch with the people from whom he has a widespread support from all political spheres. We hope that the next step will be another step in the same positive direction ... a NEW speaker for the House of Representatives who posseses similar qualities of Dr. Abela.
john mugliett
Jan 12th 2009, 12:27
Dr Gonzi
Hope this is a good idea and whilst thinking about it hope you kept in mind one important thing - that your government has only one seat majority and if something happens is the president that takes the final decision .
Hopefully our backbenchers will act as they should and do not create problems as they are apparently doing .
I do not think that this was an intelligent move , although they are trying to portrait it so , cause indirectly you are saying that no one from the pn side was capable for this post .
Mike Magri
Jan 12th 2009, 12:05
....................A VERY SENSIBLE CHOICE AT THE RIGHT MOMENT IN TIME.......................
( what a positive difference in favourable openions vis-a-vis his predecessor`s choice...!!!)
......................................Well Done PL............ Well Done PN...............................
AWGURI DR. ABELA....
Dr. John Zammit
Jan 12th 2009, 11:22
On behalf of the Alleanza Liberali - www.malta-liberals.org - we welcome the announcement of Dr. George Abela as the next Maltese President. I have been saying this for several years now that in Malta we should always have a president from the other side and not from the government side so that the Maltese people will be united as one nation. Well done at last we are moving closer to have good relations between the political parties. Now we need more cooperation with the small parties and not ignoring them. - Dr. John Zammit - Leader, Alleanza Liberali
Muscat Peter
Jan 12th 2009, 10:43
Please let us not jump to any silly conclusions which might do more harm then good!
Dr Gorg Abela will certainly have the backing of the large majority of the population, something that none of his predecessors had, apart from the late Dr A Mamo! Dr G Abela has all the credentials to make him a great President of our dear Republic of Malta.
Ingrid Jones-cameron
Jan 12th 2009, 10:10
Who cares whar Sant and Vella think? They ruined a party for their own ambitions. So who cares? The end result shows that Dr Abela was consistent in his views and believes while Sant not only failed to remove and replace Montoff but disappeared himself like a has been.
I wonder if Sant will have the decency and show consistency to refute the sum offered by Gonzi to his ex-ministers and sant himself.