'A Presidency with a European dimension'
Eddie Fenech Adami - outgoing seventh President
The House of Representatives yesterday unanimously expressed its appreciation for "the dignified manner in which Dr Edward Fenech Adami carried out his duties to the people of Malta as President of Malta". While thanking him, members of the House wished him a long and happy life and more service to the country.
Dr Fenech Adami's term as the seventh President of Malta ends next Saturday.
Introducing the motion, which was seconded by Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi branded Dr Fenech Adami's term of office as "a Presidency with a European dimension".
Dr Gonzi said this was a special moment in politics. Dr Fenech Adami had served the country and dedicated his life for the common good. Malta was rich in politicians, such as Dr Fenech Adami, who had served their country honestly and with integrity. Both sides of the House paid tribute to such politicians.
Dr Gonzi said that five years ago he had been privileged to propose Dr Fenech Adami for the Presidency, at a solemn and historic moment when Malta was to join the European Union. His Presidency had contributed to the strengthening of Malta's stature in Europe and the Mediterranean.
The Prime Minister said that the Dr Fenech Adami's Presidency had reached its constitutional, political, social and economic targets. Malta had shown its unity when the President, the Leader of the Opposition and he as Prime Minister had represented Malta at the funeral of Pope John Paul II, the enthronement of Pope Benedict XVI and the canonisation of Dun Ġorġ Preca. The President was the symbol of Maltese values.
Dr Gonzi said that one of the characteristics of Fenech Adami's Presidency was the assertion of the national and cultural identity, making everyone proud to be Maltese as Eddie Fenech Adami had said when he took the oath of office as President.
Another characteristic was the solidarity within the family extended to neighbours and those in need. This solidarity was also the hallmark of every government which strove for social justice.
In his speeches, President Fenech Adami was always consistent and determined in proclaiming Malta's Christian values. For Dr Fenech Adami the family was of the highest value. He also valued human dignity, social justice and respect for life from the moment of conception. Another value was that of giving a service to the common good.
The Fenech Adami Presidency had been characterised by the European, economic, constitutional, democratic, social and cultural dimensions. He had shown the European dimension when he was invited to be the first President of Malta to address the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
He had also contributed to the economy through his efforts to attract investment to Malta. Dr Fenech Adami had served the country constitutionally and democratically at election times and also when there was a change of leadership in the opposition Labour Party.
The social and cultural dimensions had been shown in his visits to 25 localities, where he had been welcomed by everyone.
Concluding, the Prime Minister said it was right for the country to show its appreciation to Dr Fenech Adami who had served the country with dignity, seriousness and commitment, making politicians proud to serve their country.
Dr Gonzi also gave tribute to Mrs Mary Fenech Adami for being a shoulder to her husband, a person who was both humble and proud, adding that their children and grandchildren were the apple of their eyes.
Dr Muscat said Dr Fenech Adami had continued to uphold the Office of the President with the dignity it deserved. The opposition, he said, had made its political judgment of Dr Fenech Adami, but it wanted to salute him for having done his duty as President in the past five years.
His locality visits and his meetings with the people were important for the institutions to be closer to the people.
He also praised Mrs Fenech Adami for being down to earth and an example of how one, despite one's position, could remain linked with reality.
The motion was unanimously approved.
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GiovDeMartino@Joe Fenech
Apr 3rd 2009, 05:25
U zgur li mhux Kohl u anqas Chirac! Dan mhux Malti fl-ahhra mill-ahhar? U allura? Ahna MINTOFF biss kellna tajjeb.
Joe Fenech
Apr 2nd 2009, 22:54
Steve Camilleri:
Have we met before? What's my party???
I was pointing Gonzi's usual bombastic comments!
No one with a bit of sense could possibly think that a president of a village-size country like Malta could have tasks that compare to those of presidents of such big and important countries like France and Germany!
Gianninu Saliba
Apr 2nd 2009, 21:39
Mr. Schembri and Mr. Farrugia have both missed the point. Alfred Sant and his MPs five years ago believed that it was so sad for Malta to have Dr. Fenech Adami as President that they went to parliament wearing black. Joseph indirectly admitted that they jumped the gun and assumed that Dr. Fenech Adamin will fail in his new post. Dr Muscat said Dr Fenech Adami had continued to uphold the Office of the President with the dignity it deserved. He even went further and continued by saluting him for having done his duty as President in the past five years. With regards to the political judgment, it is not up to the opposition to judge him, he was judged by the electorate in 1981, 1987, 1992 1998 2003 and had he remained Prime Minister he would have done it again last year. Plus he can boast that he has not only defeated Dom Mintoff , Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici and Alfred Sant, the latter two twice in a row, but he obtained more popular votes than the three of them in all the elections since he became PN Leader. What an achievement!!!
Franco Farrugia
Apr 2nd 2009, 19:24
@ Mr Alfred Farrugia - It is not a question of 'public orientation'. You would be surprised from where many people came from, within the political arena, who were not amused at the sudden change of hats. But of course, these people were not the type to be politicall-blinded and see everything in terms of blue.
Ingrid Jones-cameron
Apr 2nd 2009, 17:51
European dimension??? What a pariah!!! All europe has divorce and abortion. So where is EFA's european dimension from a christian values point of view??? The An who so strongly advocaTED christian values strongly advocated membership in a union that differs so much from HIS christian values. But than again thats a politician for you.
Alfred Farrugia
Apr 2nd 2009, 17:48
If our President were to be elected by popular vote, H.E. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami would have been elected President 5 years ago. He has delivered optimum service, in spite of the reservations of the Leader of Opposition of the time and his Party. In 1987, I had the opportunity to be instrumental in then Prime Minister Dr. Fenech Adami’s direct satellite transmission of his address to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. It was broadcast live to Malta for the first time ever. Technically, this was not easy because Malta uses PAL and in the US they use NTSC. If one of the two Italian sisters (Milly Carlucci ?) could appear live on RAI TV from New York every weekend, there could be no reason why a transmission from the UN could not be made! With the assistance of the Head of the UN TV station and the Head of Malta TV, Mr. Manni Spiteri, the direct transmission was made possible in 1987. That was another first for outgoing President Fenech Adami. He ought to be thanked for the service he offered our islands, independently of our political orientation.
Ingrid Jones-cameron
Apr 2nd 2009, 17:45
As far as I know we have freedom of religion in this country. So please Dr F. Adami speak on your behalf when it comes to 'christian values' and do not speak for ALL the maltese i.e malta. I do not share yr views if divorce, abortion and the protection of the clergy is attributed to christian values. nThank you and good luck.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 2nd 2009, 16:48
@ Gianninu Saliba - Perhaps, if I were Leader of the Opposition, I would have said that I still believed it was not right, nor was it ideal to have a former PM resign on one day and become President of the Republic the next day! But now that it is over, yes, indeed, I wish him well, I wish him more years of life to enjoy his private life and let's get on with life. Perhaps, sir, something like that?
P.Schembri
Apr 2nd 2009, 13:25
@Gianninu.
"The opposition, he said, had made its political judgment of Dr Fenech Adami, but it wanted to salute him for having done his duty as President in the past five years."
Where is the U-Turn?
Mario Mercieca
Apr 2nd 2009, 13:24
EFA reached several milestone which Helmut Khol and Jacque CHirac didn`t. If you judge his achievments during 42 years in politics I am sure he has much more to be proud of than the above mentioned Statesman.
Steven Camilleri
Apr 2nd 2009, 13:18
Chirac and Kohl never found the mess of a country your party gave Malta!!!
Gianninu Saliba
Apr 2nd 2009, 12:58
Joseph Muscat did another U-turn. But then how on earth could he criticize President Fenech Adami' s five years as head of state. But one must keep in mind tht indirectly Joseph was saying that his predecessor was wrong, very wrong five years ago.
Eddie, we are proud of you. We will always remember that in the early 80's you were our only hope. We had faith in you. And you delivered the goods. Thank you, President Fenech Adami.
Joe Fenech
Apr 2nd 2009, 10:31
Gonzi , give us a break with your European dimension. We're hardly talking about Helmut Kohl or Jacques Chirac here!!