The absence of the President from the canonisation of two great popes in Rome last month left many people disappointed. Maybe more disappointing was the mixed message given to explain the President’s absence. Initially, the reason mentioned was that she had to attend an urgent meeting on refugees but it later emerged that she had turned down the invitation to lead a delegation when she learnt her husband would not be among the five other members.
Ours is a predominantly Christian country, with a strong affinity to one of the popes canonised at the Vatican, Pope John Paul II, whose visits to the island received more than a warm welcome. The presence of the President at the canonisation would have been more appropriate and representative than that of the Speaker and the Prime Minister’s wife. The presidency is there to represent State, most especially on such occasions that have a special meaning to many Maltese.
When Marie-Louise Coliero Preca’s nomination for the presidency was announced, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had said she would be responsible for the national strategy on poverty and chairing certain conditions but would not have an executive position.
This is a departure from the role undertaken by all her predecessors. Successive presidents have all, in their own way, brought something to the presidency but the key role appropriated to them has always been one of unity.
By introducing a political role, as against a partisan one, the presidency comes with some dangers as these are uncharted waters for our republic and, given the polarised state of local politics, could have its pitfalls.
While not everybody agreed with his approach, there is no denying that the previous president, George Abela, brought energy to the presidency, particularly as a result of his interest in sport, not to mention his charity campaigns. He also transformed a derelict piece of land that belonged to the President’s private gardens into a kitchen garden complete with animals for the public to enjoy. He did his best to popularise the presidency.
The announcement by Ms Coleiro Preca that there are now plans to make the private gardens at San Anton Palace available for couples to take pre-wedding photos, against a donation to the Community Chest Fund, met a lukewarm reaction. An equally mixed reaction met the proposal to turn San Anton Garden into a ‘Hyde Park’ for children.
It is important to keep in mind that the presidency does not belong to the incumbent and that new ideas, well-meaning as they may be, must always keep in focus the true role of the presidency, that of a point of national unity and guardian of the Constitution.
Constitutionally, the presidency is largely symbolic and practically always acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. When Dr Abela had a problem with signing the Civil Unions Bill, the Prime Minister opted to wait out his term and avoid a confrontation. This luxury does not exist any longer.
If the President found time to attend a six-hour swearing-in ceremony, she should have found time to represent Malta at the canonisation of a figure so dear to the Maltese as John Paul II. The Prime Minister, upon whose advice she acts, should have told her so and if he did, he should have done so more forcefully.
It is all very well to take new initiatives, however, we must be careful never to lose the focus and, above all, not to trivialise the highest and most prestigious post in the country.