Monday, 12th January 2009 - 15:20CET
Update 2: George Abela meets Gonzi, Muscat
Meets at Castille, PL headquarters
Dr Abela speaking outside the Auberge de Castille today.
(Adds Dr Gonzi's comments)
George Abela this afternoon confirmed he had been asked to become the next President of Malta, saying he felt honoured to have been chosen.
Speaking at Castille after meeting Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Dr Abela said the political parties were showing great political maturity and putting the national interest before party interests.
He asked journalists not to request interviews at this time, saying there was only one President, and that was Dr Fenech Adami.
After his comments Dr Abela left for PL headquarters where he had a meeting with Joseph Muscat.
Earlier, the PL said its parliamentary group had backed Dr Abela for the presidency.
The PN parliamentary group also backed the nomination in a meeting this afternoon.
PL leader Joseph Muscat in a statement this afternoon said Dr Abela was a natural choice for Labour and his values were the party's values.
His nomination, he said, was an important achievement for the country because it enjoyed the support of both sides of the House.
Dr Muscat said Dr Abela was one of the names he had considered to propose to the Prime Minister and therefore he had reacted positively when Dr Gonzi had mentioned him.
“This is an occasion where we are showing the people that more than a past which divides us, we are interested in a future which unites us,” Dr Muscat said, adding that this development was in line with his promise of a new political season.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, speaking at a press conference this evening said this was a historic time for the country and the agreement reflected the political maturity it had achieved.
He said that while he would have preferred to announce the name closer to the end of the current presidential term ,but the name was being announced now to end speculation.
"George Abela is fully qualified for this role, he can serve it with prestige and dignity. The other names mentioned were worthy of this role too, but current times required this bold step," Dr Gonzi said.
The Prime Minister explained that although he had no constitutional obligation to consult the leader of the opposition, he wrote to Dr Muscat on December 29 proposing Dr Abela. The Labour leader requested some time to consult the party but they agreed on Dr Abela when they met last Friday.
It showed, Dr Gonzi said, that together everything was possible.
Dr Abela takes over from Dr Fenech Adami on April 4, becoming the eighth President of Malta.
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Comments
Such an honour does not in any way compensate for any of the injustices inflicted on perceived Labour supporters who suffered harassment and injustices at the hands of powerful and influential but downright evil individual Nationalists. Neither does it cancel out the suffering of individuals who suffered and/or are still suffering because of the evil deeds of PN trusted “informers” who deemed it convenient for themselves to label capable individuals of good moral integrity “Labourites”, “unprofessional”, “subversive” etc. in order to put stumbling blocks in the latter’s career pathway and even to engineer their dismissal from work in certain circumstances.
If the present government really wants National reconciliation, it should first and foremost fully investigate and fully compensate individuals for injustices such as I have mentioned and also eliminate evil individuals (however Nationalist or pseudo-Nationalist they may be) from any position in Governmental and Parastatal organizations where they can commit further evil and NOT expect to secure a place in heaven just by installing Dr. George Abela as president.
...and you still have not learned one little lesson yet!
LOL
The best comment since....better stop commenting. Dr.Gonzi keep doing magics, that's what the people need!
In Maltese we say 'B'gebla wahda jolqot 2 ghasafar' and I think that this time Dr Gonzi hit not one, by many birds.
If Dr Abela contested the MEP elections, he would have 'gained' a very good number of 'disgruntled' PN voters. Thus after removing the 'Moderate' candidate from the LP, GonziPN has more chance to get the 3rd seat if Malta gets the 6th seat in the EU Parliament. On the other hand, I think that the LP has killed the goose that laid the golden eggs..........
Dr Gonzi is seen in a good light now after the W&E bills saga.
I only hope there are no strings attached to it, like the famous pairing agreement........
It all depands who is extending the olive branch. The problem with you nazjonalisti is that you play tricks all the time. You must be related to David Copperfield.
Since when the choice of a President influenced how one voted in an election?
Since when is the President in his capacity as Head of State, the one who leads a country?
How is Joseph going to gain from Dr. Abela's appointment, in the short or long term? Dr. Abela was selected on his own merits, not Joseph's or the LP's.
What is 'dissense' - lack of sense? Maybe you mean 'dissension'?
Mix me up, so I can understand! (Hawwduni ha nifhem!)
Well, there was no need of a Dr gonzi to tell us that in the PL there are valid people! The PL, with Joseph Muscat are working very hard to convince people like you for instance that in the past may have never considered voting labour. The PL is now an open and moderate party ready to accept everyone in its fold. George Abela is a clear example that the PL has some really good individuals to offer to the good of the country.
Political maturity? Together everything is possible? My foot!
You got it right: Political Hegemony is the norm 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.
prosit mark cause this is the real feeling of loads of us . Dr Gonzi is trying to score points in favour and it looks that he is giving credit to his opponents .
With this move he is showing and saying that labourites are capable to lead this country as much as he does and he is telling everybody that if you are undecided so than you can consider to vote Labour .
I think Joseph is wise enough that he understood the message and instead of going against he agreed and instead of losing he is definitely going to gain from it in the long run .
It is true that with Gorg Abela PL are going to show themselves as capable as the PN are and if Joseph is going to surpass Gonzi with his style of politics (whicih he already started showing ) than it would turn out that from doing this move PN are going only to loose cause they had a window to proof themselves and instead of taking it they passed it to their opponents .
Definitely an EFA in his position would not have done the same
You are either x or y. I think that Dr Gonzi gave a good message to everybody. From now on one can see that both parties have good people ready for any hot seat in this country. Now i feel much more comfortable to vote for the best person i think is capable to rule this country . Now our prime minister showed us that for the first time I can consider to give my preference to PL cause he gave the message to this country that these people are well talented and politically ready to be considered as being our new government .
it is not fashionable anymore that you get born nationalist and die nationalist . Now it is more sexy to give your first preference to whom you think is the right person to rule .
I think this is the meaning between the lines that our prime minister wants us to read .
You got it all wrong!
What you should have said was that the Nationalist Party had THREE very valid individuals who could have been nominated for President while the LP had none, otherwise Joseph would have come forward with the names. Included in the phantom 'list' was Lino Spiteri, so why did Joseph not throw his support behind him? Like George Abela, Lino Spiteri was a staunch (and still is) Labour supporter and former minister in the Sant government, briefly.
And, NO, Joseph did not make the suggestion to Dr. Gonzi.
The fact remains that the Prime Minister made a statement that ONLY George Abela was under his consideration and made the announcement early due to the rumours doing the rounds. He informed Joseph on December 29.
Unlike what you stated, I hear of no factions pulling their hair because their 'favourite' was not nominated. Do you?
Your answer will probably be in the affirmative, but you got the wrong party and for the wrong reason.
I totally agree with you. The PM must have made a pact with PL in order for him to give them the presidency... it makes no sense otherwise... time will tell what the deal was!
You got it all wrong!
What you should have said was that the Nationalist Party had THREE very valid individuals which could have been nominated for President while the LP had none, otherwise Joseph would have come forward with the names. Included in the phantom 'list' was Lino Spiteri, so why did Joseph not throw his support behind him? Like George Abela, Lino Spiteri was a staunch (and still is) Labour supporter and former minister in the Sant government, briefly.
And, NO, Joseph did not make the suggestion to Dr. Gonzi - you got it back asswards.
The fact remains that the Prime Minister made a statement that ONLY George Abela was under his consideration and made the announcement early due to the rumours doing the rounds. He informed Joseph on December 29.
Unlike what you stated, I hear of no factions pulling their hair because their 'favourite' was not nominated. Do you?
Your answer will probably be in the affirmative, but you got the wrong party and for the wrong reasons.
Dr. Abela could have declined with thanks and continued to help the LP. Maybe he knows something you don't know?
The problem with you Lejburisti is that even if one extends an olive branch to you, you immediately declare that it is a trick!
Small minds think small.
@ A Magro
"...what George planned for the Labour Party has been on Muscat's desk from the first day he's been elected as Leader"
I thought that Joseph had declared on national television that he had written a 15 year plan for Malta even before he was elected Leader and before George Abela was attacked by Jason Micallef on Xarabank! So, what would he be doing with a George Abela plan?
Unless, of course he was bluffing about having his own 15 year plan which he never showed.
This is like the proposal of having 16 year-olds voting in the local elections, those who like me agreed with such proposal didn't care who came up with it first just as long as it is implemented. Joseph Muscat has stolen the role of the modern politician from Gonzi's grasp - Gonzi needed to stop threatening PN's imaginary harmony and most important, to keep up with Muscat in his Stagun Politiku Gdid. Nobody can deny that his moves are being effective!
And finally....I hope that my comments will not raise a furoar among the PN bloggers!
I tell you, do you think that when Joseph Muscat is continuously urging Dr Gonzi regarding the electricity bills he is trying to impress? NO he is doing that for the good of the WHOLE nation. Everyone will benefit.
Thats the same with Presidency my dear friend. To me same story ... LETS WORK FOR THE SAKE OUR OUR COUNTRY AND kick partizan politics away.
I never implied that there are no good people in the former or present labour party. Lino Spiteri would have been a good choice too.
NO because its the NEW LP politics, the new way to make politics that forced Dr Gonzi to take such good decision.
Prosit!
Who is saying its a trick. People in the streets are saying all kinds of theories right now and that shows that you can never ever please people on this island. The true thing is Mr De Martino, have you recieved the kont tad dawl yet? that is what worries me and not the President Panto. Its the problems this country have to face that worries me, the broken promises and disillusions by Dr Gonzi before the Election that worries me Mr De Martino.
made a very sensible choice?
Enlighten me...
All Labour Party members and activists are happy because George Abela holds the Partys principles, the Labour Partys values.
Thanks to Joseph Muscat for introducing a new way of doing politics in this country. May i just add that he is scoring so many points from opposition let alone when in Government!
Through his choice for President, Dr. Gonzi has shown us that PL has changed... that Dr. Muscat is reforming the party, his negotiating skills are excellent and he delivers on his promises. Dr. Muscat is unifying his party and rewards the party faithful, this definitely cannot be said to be true of Dr. Gonzi! Proof of this is the way he discarded his 'friend' Dr. Galea, who dedicated his life to the party and most of all the country.
If even the PN leader has endorsed the Labour Party's natural choice, than so can we... My family and I will definitely be joining the Generazzjoni Rebbieha as from the MEP/ Local Council elections this summer onwards...
Thank You Dr. Gonzi!
What is this great achievement your awarding Gonzi with? Such a dirty political move that has anticipated further partisan commotion, even between ourselves. Other Blues has called this one as one of the reasons why we should vote for Gonzi next election. Either he's forgotten all about the disastrous performance of Lawrence since his first month in office or else he's too much obsessed with the PN indoctrination!
Labourites don't need to fuss about all this - what George planned for the Labour Party has been on Muscat's desk from the first day he's been elected as Leader. So pls. PN excusers, stop dreaming, start living.....ey ey and start paying these massive bills!
The chief merit for the nomination of George Abela, a prominent member of the political party in Oppostion, for the office of President of the Replublic, should go to Prime Minister Lawrewnce Gonzi. Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat shares in the merit for his spontaneous acceptance of the nomination which he was ready to put forward himself. Had he done so, Dr Muscat would have followed the old policy of proposing someone from his own party to the office of President. No progress.
For historical precision, there was at least one occasion when a respected retired civil servant was put forward by a Nationalist prime minister, but this was rejected by the opposition. It is also a fact that Paul Xuereb, a prominent MLP politician, was retained as acting president for two years by the Nationailst government led by Edward Fenech Adami.
If you are living on the same country called Malta as I am, you must also be aware that PL never rejected Dr George Abela ... infact, his nomination for the leadership contest was approved and it was hard to decide who is the best of the best out of the two: Dr. Joseph Muscat and Dr. George Abela. The wisest decision for the party was taken when Dr. Muscat was chosen to lead the party. His vision for the party is worth millions and may his vision for Malta becomes real within 4 years' time!! When it comes to Dr. Abela, he was the second best in the leadership contest (far from rejected, ey!!!). He is still loved by one and all. He would fulfill the role as President. I am absolutely honourable to be Maltese with Dr. George Abela as the President of the Republic. Dr. George Abela shall become the Head of State! A well-deserved position Dr Abela!
Minkejja li ma nafekx naqbel mieghek 100% fil - 100%. Nhoss li Dr Abela ghandu l-kriterji kollha biex jaqdi din il-kariga. Awguri Dr Abela.
Fl-istess hin ma nistax ma nifrahx lil Dr Gonzi u lil Dr Muscat ghall maturita li wrew dwar din il-materja.
However, all those praising Gonzi and the PN for some super achievement and for being glorious, magnificent, etc, etc, I find them really childlish and are definitely showing signs of Short Term memory Loss. Gonzi's act of nominating GA is a superb political move by Gonzi to alienate people from the real PN-caused problems afflicting this country.
It is hilarious how the blue eyed, blue and forever blue elves come out bursting with pride and joy about their Gonzi because he nominated a valid person for president. They are probably living in sadness due to all the shameful blunders their Gonzi-GattoPN have dished out especiall since the last elections.
Please do remember the first speech of Dr Gonzi as a leader of the PN when he mentioned that we must experience new ways of doing politics. You must not be shortsighted as specific circumstances require specific moves. We must acknowledge that Dr Gonzi was very courage in such a decision and history will proof him right.
Good Luck Dr Abela…
Prosit Laurence and Good Luck George.
Flimkien Kollox Possibli is a vision not a political slogan
@ D Pace
Absolutely nonsense, sorry! Dr. Joseph Muscat has been encouraging our nation to start a new political season since day one of being elected as PL Leader. FINALLY, Dr. Gonzi seems to have understood Dr. Muscat's message and seems willingly to move hand-in-hand when issues are related to our nation's benefit. It seems that Dr. George Abela is the only person who is a natural choice by both leaders, so there is for once a concensus from both parties.
The fact that Dr. George Abela has socialist ideals does not make any difference to anyone in his capabilities to fulfill this prestigeous role!!
Just to prove Dr George Abela's loyalty, allow me to point out that he had promised that should he not be elected as party leader he would still be prepared to serve the party ... he is now not just able to serve the party, but the whole nation! Thank you Dr. Abela for who you are!
Can't you realise that to-day we have indeed unfolded a beautiful new page in our poltical history? For heaven's sake stop digging the dark events of the past for which both parties have a lot to blame. Let us look at a future where the political divide does not allow any more discrimination or injusticies to persons of different poltical creeds. I strongly beleive that our new president Dr George Abela will be an excellent unifying agent able and willing to bring about this change.
Congratulations to both Dr Lawrence Gonzi and Dr Joseph Muscat who made all this possible
Of course YES! why should'nt Labour reciprocate! thats the way it should be my friend.
If i'm not mistaken our first President Sir Anthony Mamo was not known to be a labour supporter but Dom Mintoff still nominated him as our first President. And it worked.
U min ghamel Malta Repubblika P AQUILINA? Dik mhux storja ukoll?
C camilleri
back to you if im not mistaken even on our old Lira 20Pound notes there was Dr Borg Olivier printed on as remembrance for Independence. Now lets imagine there was no euro and malta decided to change its money designs whatever... should a PN government print Mr Mintoff or the hated Dr Alfred Sant on them? I would go for a yes but you wish its a no. Cos thats how you made some of you nazzjonalisti diehards YOU HATE! YOU SUCK!
It finally ends three decades of loyal partisan appointments, many of whom admittedly managed to rise above partisanship during their term of office. It is a great start to the next tenure when one has the backing of both major parties and the vast majority of the electorate they represent.
It is good for Malta. Not too imprssed by tribal allegiances which tend to make their way into these comments. I honestly wish that one day most of us stop being PN and PL first, and remember that they are Maltese above all else.
I am greatly disappointed in Gonzi's choice not because I do not believe in any way that Dr.Abela has not worked hard in the poltical camp, but I find it rather upsetting that a Nationalist Government does not appoint such a prestigious post to a Nationalist politician. Whatever happened to Louis Galea? Who worked so hard as a politician especially during those hard times.... Does Gonzi seriously think that because of this he will attract PL voters to vote PN in the next elections?? Does he not acknowledge the work other PN parliamentarians have done?
and really, this is not political maturity, there is definately something else to it...
As regard the political ramification I am sure that both the political leaders did their reflection as to the outcome of such a choice and concluded that this is the best solution.
I wish Dr. Abela a successful tenure and succeed to foster political tolerance and reinforce the ethics in all levels of our society.
'Deo gratias. The great political divide, begun in the 1970's, ' The great political divide started in the early sixties when labour supporters were not allowed to go to church, when labour meetings were disturbed with church bells and whisling from Tal-Muzew, and when the Labour dead were laid to rest in teh Misbla! Was there ever a worse political divide?
Perhaps itis now time for usMaltese to raise above party politics-politics of'Don Camillo and Peppone',of shouting white becaise the other says white.This consensus encourages me.Simply putMalta deserves better.
As to this bold decision byDr. Gonzi Prime Minister of Malta, I can only say thank you-'he who dares wins' and as Winston Churchill said, 'luck favours the brave'.You have taken the 'path less travelled' and made a reality what many thought impossible.This you did in silence and in the ever-relevent values of Christiandemocracy.Ultimetly your decision is a manifestation of faith in the Maltese people.History will remember this.
Dr.Muscat thank you for understanding that politics of division led us to nowhere-my concern is that a 'player doesn't make a team'. As a Maltese European,I can only be happy for the (seemingly)transformation of the MLP into a mainstream European PL-but ultimetly the proof of the'pudding is in the eating'.
You must have a very short memory, but you are right, Dr. Fenech Adami was preceded by Prof. Guido deMarco who succeeded Dr. Mifsud Bonnici who followed Dr. Censu Tabone.
What joseph rene (or vice-versa) forgot to mention is that before the aforementioned Presidents we had Mr.Pawlu Xuereb (ad interim), Ms. Agatha Barbara, Dr. Albert Hyzler (ad interim) and Dr. Anton Buttigieg.
So, what's your point rene joseph?
Are you by any chance implying that the last four were not sufficiently qualified for the position or that they did not impeccably discharge their duties ? Please let's not make such comparisons here!
Let us all be thankful that the stone that had been rejected by the "builders" at the Mile End has been chosen by our master masons to become the cornerstone for the nation for many years to come!
Well done Onor Prime Minister and Leader of the Oppositron for this breakthrough.
Ovvjament, ic-cirkustanzi ta llum HEKK kienu jitolbu, u specjalment wara l-mod ta opinjoni xejn accettabli li bih kien inhatar il-President attwali, l-Ecc. Tieghu Dr. Eddy Fenech Adami, u li jien, sincerament issa nawguralu mistrih twil u felici mal-familja..
Ghalhekk, Prosit Kbir liz-zewg partiti rapprezentanti taghna fill-parlament, ta din il-maturita kbira politika li wrew..
U AWGURI MILL-QALB DR. GEORGE ABELA.....
Good move - Prosit!
This was 25 yrs ago when mintoff was Maltese prime minister. Since than the Maltese parliament was never united to elect its President.
This is the 1 st time after 25 yrs that the new president is backed from both parties. Congratulations to both of them. Hope that this occasion will unite the Maltese people and will celebrate together this unique occasion which we were supposed to celebrate about 25 yrs ago.
If Gonzi indeed shot him self in the legs by nominating George Abela for the Presidency, then certainly Joseph Muscat shot himself in the Head by considering proposing George Abela to the Prime Minister.
Perhaps a better analogy is; Gonzi sweeps the carpet from underneath Joseph Muscat feet with even knowing it.
The Acting Preisdent is from Qormi and another nominee for the Presidency is from Qormi also - meaning, Qormi is the best :))
The French system is different to ours. The French public vote for both the President and Parliament. These two elections are held separately and this is the reason for occasional French political ‘cohabitation’. Also, a French president has far greater powers than a Maltese president. The significance of Dr Abela’s nomination is that it was Lawrence Gonzi’s prerogative to nominate the next president.
Together with timesofmalta.com, I guess PBS is proving to be the best source of information.
As regards our new President....Hope he is better than the one we currently have. And lets hope that PL will return the favour should they be in govt 5 years from now!
you seem to forget that the current president of Malta is E.F. Adami, who took the position after stepping down as Prime Minister. Not really before the best person to symbolize unity, eh? And the one before him, was guido de Marco ... and before, yes you get it.
So please, do not preach some horse morality about PN being morally superior to the PL.
It is a good step towards political maturity, perhaps you should get a hint too.
“This is an occasion where we are showing the people that more than a past which divides us, we are interested in a future which unites us,” Dr Muscat said, adding that this development was in line with his promise of a new political season.
NO NEED FOR FURTHER COMMENTS
Being a Qormi person, I am also happy that our next Prez will be a Qormi man, the town where the best Maltese come from :))
2) It is useless for any leader of any party to take the merit for this appointment. George Abela has been nominated as President because he deserved it. However, one has to admit that this was an excellent strategic move by the Prime Minister who is doing his utmost to convince everyone that he is actually practicing 'a new way of doing politics' and not Dr. Muscat.
Yes Gonzi has shot again... this time to his legs. Gonzi has pinned another nail into the coffin of PN in Government!
Deo gratias. The great political divide, begun in the 18970's 1870'safter the opening of the Suez Canal, is finally being bridged. Well done to one and all, and congratulations to all concerned.
Bondi plus (similar to Dissett) is one of the best investigative journalism programmes that grills prominent people.
Forget about Lou Bondi's political orientation and his somewhat blunt manner of interviewing people......what really matters are the valid questions that he puts forward (if you care to listen to them properly) .... his tactics will expose positive and/or negative aspects or actions of individuals who we really need to get to know....such as Dr Abela...I am pretty sure Dr Abela can handle it.
Lorry I presume you are an ex colleague of mine at De La Salle College. Fair enough to feel proud that a Qormi man is to becoming Malta's next President. Still maybe as a Marsascala resident I might feel happier, because in April we will have the new President and the actual Prime Minister at the top spots. Both Dr. Abela and Dr. Gonzi form part of our community, the Scalini. Congratulation to all for such a mature step and I only hope that I will live up to the day, when as a whole nation we will earn the opportunity to elect the President of our own chose and see the President of the Republic of Malta invested with more power. Mind you, Dr. Abela, is not so far away, as he enjoy esteem of at least 80% of the people of Malta and Gozo. Congratulations too to the Labour Party leader. Dr. Joseph Muscat, for showing that yes, together everything is possible. Dr. Gonzi mark the man (Joseph).Together you can do great things for our country. Is this the beginning of the well dreamt of reconcilation in the making?
Perhaps this marks the beginning of a new era in Maltese politics...
When you start thinking what possibly could Dr Gonzi come up with now, this great Politician astounds us all.
Altough I am not a Labourite I beleive in Dr Gonzi's vision and therefore I augur all the Best to our next President George Abela.
You will make Malta and its people proud to say that we are all Maltese (and that includes Gozo too).
You have alot of thinking to do so that this nation finds the means to bring unity through maturity by all. It is not only politicians that should have a sense of maturity but this must trickle down to each member of society.
Good Luck and God Bless You !!