Anecdotes flowed, instances of his political mastery were evoked and an organist recalled former President Guido de Marco’s love of music during a commemoration of this “great citizen of the world”.

A year after his death, the Nationalist Party’s political academy Ażad yesterday commemorated Prof. de Marco by inviting former Italian Foreign Minister Gianni de Michelis as a keynote speaker.

“Guido was a great Maltese, a great European and a great citizen of the world,” Mr de Michelis said, describing Prof. de Marco as his friend.

In 1990 Mr de Michelis had received Malta’s bid to join the European Union, then still referred to as the European Community, from the hands of then Foreign Minister de Marco.

The iconic photo of Prof. de Marco handing over the documents with Malta’s membership application was projected on a big screen and evoked memories of the long journey which saw the country formally join the EU 14 years later.

“His words could reassure or inflame a crowd,” historian Henry Frendo said at the beginning of the event while briefly documenting the “mercurial man’s” life and times.

It was a fitting description for a brief clip showing Prof. de Marco addressing a PN meeting before the 1987 election and telling PN supporters their first duty was to vote and their second duty to ensure everyone voted.

In his closing speech, Prof. de Marco’s son Mario chose to recall his father’s words to “find justice in everything but never judge others with anything”.

The event was also addressed by PN MEP David Casa and Ażad president and MEP Simon Busuttil. It was attended by deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, ambassadors and members of the de Marco family.