The time has come to revise the procedure undertaken to select a president, President George Abela, whose term ends in April, said this morning.

In his Republic Day speech highlighting the need for substantial reform to strengthen the autonomous role of the President, Dr Abela said the focus should be on "how to proceed to make the best possible choice" for the new President.

"The political reality is that many times the choice to appoint a new President rests with the Prime Minister who enjoys Parliament's majority.

"This, although in line with the Constitution, is not necessarily aimed at searching for the best candidate to become President.

"I believe that it would be wiser if the choice of the President would be reached through a wide consensus by all the country's political forces, within a framework of genuine exchanges to ensure that the chosen person will be acceptable to all parties," he said.

Dr Abela also said that the widening of the President's functions to act without the Prime minister's advice should also be considered, so that the President would have a more active and decisive role, such as, "in choosing the members of the constitutional bodies".

He also said that the possibility of whether the President should refer to Parliament any Act on which he may have some reservations "for Parliament's renewed consideration".

Dr Abela's speech in full can be read in the pdf links below.

During the ceremony, honours are being presented as follows:

National Order of Merit Companion of Honour

The late acting President Paul Xuereb (posthumously)

National Order of Malta (Companions)

Former Speaker Michael Frendo

Former Health Minister Edwin Grech

National Order of Malta (Officers)

Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech

National Order of Malta (Members)

Tenor Paul Asciak

Mary Carmen Bellamy, who established Gozo CCU Foundation

People of Australia ambassador and Times of Malta contributor Lawrence Dimech

Medical consultant Anglu Psaila

Neurosurgeon Lawrence Zrinzo

Medalja Ghal Qadi tar-Repubblika

The Armed Forces Air Squadron

Environmentalist and Times of Malta contributor Lino Bugeja

Li Tkisser Sewwi editor Mark Camilleri

Transgender Joanne Cassar

Film critic Lino Cassar (posthumously)

The winning team of Junior Eurovision (Gaia Cauchi, Matthew Mercieca, Elton Zarb and Gillian Attard)

Engineer Carmel Pule

Maria Tabone, widow of late President Censu Tabone

Sportsman Peter Valentino

Environmentalist Astrid Vella

Others

Valentina Ivanovna Mathvienko (honorary companion)

Alain Dutheil (honorary officer)

Margrith Lutschg-Emmenegger (honorary member)

Abdurazagh Ismail Zmirli (honorary member)

Medalja Ghal Qadi tar-Repubblika (honorary basis)

Radiographer Annie Sciriha

Distinguished Service Medal

Armed Forces of Malta and the Italian Military Mission (for the October 11 rescue operation off Lampedusa)

Biographies of the recipients can be read in the pdf links below.