House approves George Abela's nomination to become Malta's eighth President
George Abela, who has been nominated as Malta's next President.
The House of Representatives this evening approved a motion for George Abela to become the eighth President of Malta.
The motion was moved by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and seconded by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat.
Dr Gonzi said this was a solemn moment in Malta's history. The presidency was the highest constitutional and institutional office. Even if the President was viewed as being a figurehead, he was a crucial one. The President under his wings grouped all the people. The most important element of the presidency was that it promoted national unity.
Malta was a small country and every individual had his value and needed to be respected and allowed to contribute.
The nomination of Dr Abela was a historic moment which reflected unity and which had been greeted by most of the people. Of course, some disagreed, but clearly, this was an opportunity for the country which deserved to be grasped.
Dr Gonzi said he wished to thank all former Presidents and and those who had forged Malta's constitutional history.
He recalled how, last December 29 he wrote to the Leader of the Opposition proposing Dr Abela for the presidency. They had a meeting early in January and agreed to submit the proposal to their respective parliamentary groups. He regretted that the proposal reached the press at this early a stage, but that was now past.
Dr Gonzi said Dr Abela was being nominated for the Presidency because of his qualities and abilities for the Office. Throughout his life he had demonstrated integrity and honesty in different spheres of life. He loved his country and he loved his family, in what was a continuation of the values of the Maltese people championed by the Fenech Adami presidency.
Dr Abela also championed human dignity, solidarity, work as the ingredient which gave dignity to the human being and he also gave deserved importance to Maltese culture, young people and sport.
Of course, other people also had these qualities, including some of his closest friends, and they too would have been very suitable for the Presidency. But the country had reached a new phase in its constitutional and political development, and he was certain that the people felt that they should take a step forward. The very choice of Dr Abela marked a break from the practice where the President came from the government's political camp.
Up to some time ago, Dr Abela was one of the leading candidates for the leadership of the Labour Party. But experience showed that all those who served in the Presidency had managed, from day one, to rise above partsan politics. He was sure Dr Abela would do likewise.
Dr Abela and all politicians now had a responsibility to ensure that this political maturity was allowed to yield dividends for the country.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said he believed that Dr Abela would be the President of everybody from day one. He did not need to convince anyone.
When Dr Gonzi proposed Dr Abela to him, his instinctive reaction was to accept immediately, Dr Muscat said, but he obviously had to consult his colleagues.
It was good that the Presidency was again to be occupied by a person who had not served in Parliament, showing that the Office was not the monopoly of former MPs. His appointment would instil new energy into this Office. It was a powerful signal that this country needed to move forward as one. This unity needed to perculate down to all members of society, especially where the government had a say.
The three elements which were likely to define the Abela presidency were the value of work, especially in these hard times; the secular role of the state in a society of different beliefs and the philanthropic aspect of the presidency including a revamp of the community chest fund.
He was confident Dr Abela would make the country proud, Dr Muscat said.
No other speakers took part in the debate. The motion was approved unanimously.
Earlier the House approved a motion of appreciation for the work of outgoing President Eddie Fenech Adami (see separate story)
The House adjourned to Saturday at Noon for the appointment of the new President.
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
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...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
16 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Joe Ciantar
Apr 2nd 2009, 09:46
The nomination and now the acceptance of Dr.George Abela as President of Malta is a gain for the Republic of Malta and what a great loss to the PL. The delegates who did not vote for him in PL leadership contest should really ask themselves - Did we do the right thing for our party??? NB. How about a game of chess dear Prime Minister !!!!!!!!!!!!!
D Vella
Apr 2nd 2009, 09:29
An excellent choice of an excellent man. I am sure that he will serve his Country well and help the Maltese to understand that we must now forward to a truly secular State free of all ties ,ensuring that all Citizens, be they of different beliefs or colour are given the rights to which they aspire and which have been denied them for so long.
Spiridione Sultana
Apr 2nd 2009, 09:15
@ Paul Vella
Agree with you 100%. Our national TV station has now become so partisan that it reminds one of the old Radio Moscow days, or in a local context, the old Pellegrini days. I certainly wouldn't be surprised if one fine day Dr Gatt decides to amalgamate PBS with NET tv and save his party some money. On Monday night the PBS 8pm news even failed to give any mention to the Vittoriosa activities and instead, as usual, regaled us with inconsequential propaganda from the political diaries of the PN Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. This partisan policy unfortunately foments more hatred and divisiveness among the Maltese and brings to nothing any conciliatory efforts by Dr Gonzi, Dr Muscat and now Dr Abela.
James Ebejer
Apr 2nd 2009, 08:42
Dr Abela's mission is to re-unite the Maltese nation and one of his first tasks should be to get both parties round a table to agree on one non-divisive Public Holiday. I feel confident he will be the most loved and popular President ever.
Matthew Agius
Apr 2nd 2009, 01:17
He is a man of honour and deserves the Presidency, no matter the fact that he comes from a different political background to the government.
This is political maturity at its best.
I dream to see my country with such political maturity and not burning with partisan politics even on pettiest of issues rather than uniting.
apgrech
Apr 2nd 2009, 00:02
George Abela won't need to "act" to look that he's a good President. All he has to do is to be himself.
Congratulations Mr President. You will truly unite the people.
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Apr 1st 2009, 23:28
PROSIT lill-Kamra u PROSIT u L-ISBAH XEWQAT lil Dr. George Abela
Michel Bencini
Apr 1st 2009, 23:24
Congratulations to the new president! You see, folks, it does not take much to instill credibility to the office when a prime minister is willing to put aside party politics and recommend someone from the ranks of the oppositon party. very few politicians are capable of that. I hope the oppositon leader will be that classy if he ever held the postion of first among ministers. maybe he can restore the labour party to the dignified movement of its founders in the early twenties. People in today's generation should hit the history books and study the history of their forefathers. Then they will be able to realize that their country was not built in a day. The good works of the 19th and 20th century political movements may be finally bearing fruit only now.
Antoine Grima
Apr 1st 2009, 23:14
At last , a president for all.
Jason Borg
Apr 1st 2009, 22:38
Illum inkitbet storja gdida fl-istorja ta' pajjizna. Bl-ghazla ta' George Abela il-Prim Ministru Gonzi wassal messagg importanti. Wera bil-fatti id-differenza bejn mexxej illi jiddelitta bil-paroli u l-loghob ghall-gallarija u mexxej illi hu ffukat fuq it-tmexxija tal-pajjiz, jindirizza l-isfidi u tabilhaqq jaghti ezempju ta' kif ghandu jkun stagun politiku gdid.
Jghaddu l-granet, l-gimghat u x-xhur u d-differenza bejn Lawrence Gonzi u Joseph Muscat dejjem qed tispikka. Well Done Prime Minister !!
C Cilia
Apr 1st 2009, 22:10
Another victory for Joseph Muscat!
Hey you all, now we have a Labour president.......we should also try a Labour government!
Imagine Dr Muscat and Dr Abela both leading Malta!
Alfred Cassar
Apr 1st 2009, 21:25
@ I really dont understand what you mean. I dont feel I have to be ashamed because of my acceptance of Dr Abela as President.
All previous presidents should have been accepted by all Maltese people irrespective of their political beliefs. If this wasnt the case it's because of our poor political reasoning. This should also apply to Dr George Abela, to whom I wish all best wishes and good luck.
dzerafa
Apr 1st 2009, 20:58
I am very proud to be from the same village Mr Abela was born and even more of his name George for which Qormi celebrates one of the main festa villages in Malta.!!!
I am sure he will be President of all Maltese people as it should be.
simon amato
Apr 1st 2009, 20:42
This is what maltese people want. A person respected by the majority of the maltese.Awguri dr Abela mill qalb
Melvin Abela
Apr 1st 2009, 20:32
@Marvin Mizzi
Shame on who? And for what? When will some people grow up?! EFA had the respect of not more than 50% of Malta's population and George Abela, I can guarantee you, enjoys the respect of at least 75%. The shame should be on past Nationalist and Labour Governments who opted to choose one of their own to enjoy the perks of San Anton. The only exception as witnessed by history was of course Dom Mintoff who chose the only non-political person and the most universally respected of all past presidents.
Marvin Mizzi
Apr 1st 2009, 20:20
Shame on you all!!!!!!!!!!