Alfred Griscti (January 6) is totally wrong when he says that “The presidency is not part of the executive, and, as such, has no executive powers”.

The Constitution says that “The executive authority of Malta is vested in the President” who can exercise it directly or through subordinate officers.

He is also wrong when he suggests that the President condones or urges secularisation.

Her remark that “The Catholic religion is no longer central to cultural activity because of the vast changes happening in our society” does not condone or urge secularisation – it is a down-to-earth recognition of Malta as it is today.

In a nod to modern society, he accepts that respect does not mean that the President should not be close to the people but secretly he wants to return Malta to its colonial past, when the Governor was on a pedestal, alongside the Archbishop, and would only appear on ceremonial occasions and then to be worshipped from afar.

In this he reminds me of a tal-pepé Maltese, who, on hearing that my wife and I were taking a course in the Maltese language, snootily commented: “You don’t need to learn Maltese, you haven’t got servants.”