Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was sworn in as the ninth President of Malta yesterday at the end of a six-hour marathon that started in Luqa and ended at San Anton Palace.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Palace, in Valletta, after Ms Coleiro Preca walked down Republic Street accompanied by her husband, Edgar, as well as by hundreds of schoolchildren.
The 20-minute walk was characterised by the President’s break with officialdom as she side-stepped the entourage to hug and kiss well-wishers behind police barriers.
She is only the second woman to occupy the highest office of the State, taking over from George Abela whose five-year term ended yesterday. In her inaugural speech, Ms Coleiro Preca spoke of her commitment to work for solidarity, tolerance and diversity in society. She urged society to listen more to the aspirations of children and young people.
The new President said she would strive to be “a catalyst for unity” and, in a symbolic gesture at the end of the swearing-in ceremony, she was joined by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil and Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola on the palace balcony to wave to well-wishers assembled at St George’s Square.
The three leaders later held separate private meetings with the President at her official residence in San Anton, Attard. The lengthy affair started in Luqa where Ms Coleiro Preca bid farewell to her constituents. She was elected from the sixth electoral district in every election since 1998.
She then proceeded to Siġġiewi where Archbishop Paul Cremona celebrated Mass under a tent in the car park of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, a home for the disabled.
On her way to Valletta, Ms Coleiro Preca stopped at Qormi, her home town, where she was given a warm welcome.
The official ceremony was held in a special session of Parliament at the Grand Council Chamber. President Coleiro Preca was then accorded a 21-gun salute by the armed forces.
A group of elderly and disabled people followed proceedings on a big screen in the palace courtyard.