Code of ethics for people in high places

I call on President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici to work on a code of ethics for retired presidents, chief justices, ombudsmen, attorney generals, auditor generals and other persons who have held a high position under the Constitution.

These persons have enjoyed the maximum respect and their very position entails a completely independent approach in all political and controversial topics.

I feel that Eddie Fenech Adami has made a faux pas when he involved himself in the divorce polemic.

As a Christian I am against divorce, indeed against anything which goes diametrically opposite to Christ’s teachings. But having had a long career in politics, and having managed to live up to the level expected from the President, Dr Fenech Adami should not have got directly involved in this hot potato. It is not the “divorce” per se, but the fact of taking sides in a public controversy.

I appreciate that as a Christian he felt he had to defend the teachings and morals of the Church, but there are others who can do this.

A former President, more than anyone else, should avoid at all costs any personal feelings. No person who had earned esteem during his tenure of office should depart from its confines. The public taking of sides can be described as a loss of balance and has demeaned the exalted Office of President.

The code of ethics should also serve as an eye-opener to past and future incumbents that their behaviour and public utterings should be controlled according to strict limits. The British royal family are always careful about saying anything that could be considered as interference in politics or controversy.

I have great esteem for Dr Fenech Adami. But once he accepted to become President he lost a certain amount of liberty. As such he, and others like him, must never be seen as putting hurdles or causing obstructions to any minority group, irrespective of his beliefs.

Those who cannot live up to such a status should not accept the position in the first place, but once accepted they have to live and act within the parameters as expected by the public in general. Alternatively, future presidents will risk losing public esteem.