Because Alfred Griscti (January 19) ‘reiterates’ something does not make it correct and he is still totally wrong when he says that “the Presidency is not part of the Executive (the government) and, as such, it has no executive (that is, governmental) powers”.

Section 78 (1) of the Constitution quite clearly specifies that “The executive authority of Malta is vested in the President” while, under Section 78 (2), it can be “exercised directly” or through subordinate officers. That presidents do not usually exercise those powers directly, but only through subordinates, does not mean that the powers have been relinquished. In fact, the President is empowered to directly appoint the Prime Minister by selecting “The person who, in his (sic) judgement is best able to command a majority” (Section 80).

Previously (January 6), in an unjustified criticism clearly directed at the incumbent President, Griscti wrote that “anyone who urges and/or condones secularisation at the expense of the Church is not fit to be President”.

Presumably, having had time to reflect, he now backtracks and innocently claims that “nobody suggested that the incumbent President condones or urges secularisation.” However, he was the “nobody” who did.