The Times concluded its leading article on the choice of the new President on Friday thus: "In line with the new spirit of constructive politics which both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat are so eagerly promoting and working for, it will do the country good if the choice falls on a person who is immediately acceptable to all".

The government yesterday an-nounced that George Abela will be nominated as President Eddie Fenech Adami's successor and the nomination has the support of the Opposition.

This is indeed good news for the Presidency and for Dr Abela but, more so, for the country that is usually divided on party political lines when making major decisions. This development bodes well for the future even if divergent opinions on the choice are likely to ensue.

There will be quarters that will insist that, given that the President operates within a political sphere and, as had happened not so long ago, s/he would have to tread carefully in a potentially political minefield, the incumbent should come from the political class.

Others will argue that the President ought to belong to the party in power.

The argument that the President should be a person who is not aligned to any political force, provided s/he enjoys national support, will also be made.

Then, there will be those who would insist that, so long as the person selected has what it takes, it will not really matter whether he is a former politician, a former judge or whatever once he is likely to bring about the national unity that one expects from the Presidency.

This last point would apply in Dr Abela's case.

Dr Abela, a lawyer by profession, has given ample proof of his mettle throughout his long and distinguished career that has spanned various spheres: football, trade unionism and politics.

The stand he took when he was legal adviser to the General Workers' Union and had disagreement with the leadership and, more so, when he quit first as a top aide to then Prime Minister Alfred Sant and then as deputy leader of the Malta Labour Party, prove Dr Abela is a man who is willing to stand up and speak up when it comes to issues he strongly believes in. The correct attitude he adopted after losing his Labour leadership bid to Joseph Muscat again demonstrates his sense of fair play and political correctness.

There is another consideration to be made when discussing the issue of whether Dr Abela is acceptable to all and that is the reaction there had been by his political opponents during the Labour leadership electoral campaign and subsequently.

The expressions of support by declared or known Nationalist Party supporters/elements must still be fresh in many people's minds. As certainly are the arguments raised that he was defeated because he was not part of Dr Sant's clan.

The above goes to show why Dr Abela should enjoy widespread support. The final point, in particular, speaks volumes about the efforts Dr Muscat is making to distance himself and his party from the past.

The eighth President promises to have a very good start. What happens in future will depend in part on his performance but mainly on how the two men that put him there will deal with Dr Abela.

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