President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca yesterday declined to comment on a claim she missed Sunday’s canonisation ceremony in Rome because her husband was left out of Malta’s delegation.

Sources told Times of Malta the President had turned down the invitation to lead the delegation when she learnt her husband Edgar was not among the five other members.

She offered to give up her place for him, the sources said, but the Holy See told the Maltese government that, according to protocol, if Mr Preca led the delegation it would be seated further back, rather than the front rows.

Sources said the Office of the Prime Minister disagreed with sending the President’s husband instead and so Speaker Anġlu Farrugia and the Prime Minister’s wife Michelle Muscat led the delegation.

More on Times of Malta.

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