When an iconic figure like President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami speaks, people listen.

So when the former Nationalist Party leader suggests that the government should call a snap election rather than respect the people’s verdict on divorce, he more than confounds his party’s current leadership.

Similarly, when former Labour leader Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici says Malta should dialogue with Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi instead of condemn him, he divides opinion among older Labourites and reddens the faces of the hierarchy.

But should people like Dr Fenech Adami and Dr Mifsud Bonnici keep quiet or speak their mind?

According to historian Henry Frendo, former politicians do not cease to be citizens with a right to their freedom of speech when they retire from official positions.

“However, with all due respect to their experience, they should exercise certain discretion.”

Prof. Frendo thinks it is “incongruous” to compare Dr Fenech Adami’s forceful outbursts on divorce with the “outlandish” views of Dr Mifsud Bonnici, or the past behaviour of former Labour leader Dom Mintoff, who effectively brought down his own party from government.

But former Labour minister Joe Micallef Stafrace notes a different distinction, based on who they are, rather than what they say.

He sees nothing wrong with the participation of people like Mr Mintoff and Dr Mifsud Bonnici, because they ended their career as party politicians. But Dr Fenech Adami retired as a President, meaning he still “represents the State”.

“Without disowning one’s political past, I think former Presidents should speak with prudence. That is what Ugo Mifsud Bonnici did when he spoke about divorce,” he says, stressing that rather then being silent they should speak with dignity.

“When you become President you gain a certain status and stature which remains with you even after you resign... God forbid all Presidents came out brandishing swords and getting into the arena the way Fenech Adami has done on divorce... We’re either going to give the President’s role the serious status it deserves or we are not,” he adds.

On the other hand, outspoken former Nationalist MP Josie Muscat believes no one should be muzzled, and if a former party leader has different views from the current one, they should speak out civilly and let the people decide.

“Maybe it is not right to impose your views on your party but there is nothing wrong with stating your opinion and fighting for it... Being a former President does not mean you lose your right to express an opinion. I don’t think people like Fenech Adami should be buried as some have suggested.”

However, he pointed out that when a divisive figure like Dr Fenech Adami speaks, his comments could be counterproductive.

“Since we are such a polarised country, Fenech Adami is still hated by many. And if he suggests something they will want to do the opposite... It is up to the individual to put forward their arguments in an influential manner.”

Arnold Cassola, Alternattiva Demokratika EU affairs spokesman and former leader, believes retired politicians should not retire into anonymity because “in theory” they have a wealth of experience to offer the country.

But they should be intelligent enough to “rein in their ego” and not embarrass the present party and country leaders.

“It is this intelligence that seems to be lacking,” he said, using the example of Mr Mintoff and former Labour leader Alfred Sant’s 1998 showdown, which he labelled “unacceptable”. (Dom Mintoff had brought the Labour Party down after only 22 months in government by voting against Dr Sant in a vote of no confidence.)

“Fenech Adami seems to be acting on the same lines, though in a different way. I shall defend Fenech Adami’s right to voice his opinion publicly till the very end. But his insistence on not having the divorce law approved, despite the clear mandate of the people, is simply not on. He is proving to be a big embarrassment to the Prime Minister.”

Dr Cassola said Dr Fenech Adami was basically asking Dr Gonzi to call an early election and lose it.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.