Though 50 years old, the Constitution still served its purpose well, according to President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.
Addressing a conference organised by the University of Malta and themed ‘The Constitution – 50 years of proposals and counter proposals’, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he still had to see serious and concrete proposals on what needed to be changed in the present Constitution.
Recalling his long experience in politics, as a member of Parliament, a Cabinet minister and a former President of Malta, he expressed conviction that the Constitution as it stood still worked well.
“I have resorted to the [provisions of the] Constitution, particularly because in my time as President I had various changes of government, especially when I found myself without a prime minister because Alfred Sant had decided to resign before the official election results came out.
“I can tell you that, at such a delicate time, the Constitution functioned well,” he said.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici pointed out that, though the Constitution had been changed on various occasions, he still did not see any proposals about the need for a complete overhaul.
In its electoral programme, the Labour Party pledged to hold a constitutional convention to propose radical changes to the Constitution. So far, however, no changes have been proposed and the convention has yet to be held.
On the other hand, while the Nationalist Party is keeping all doors open on possible constitutional changes, it declared before the election that any changes would have to be approved by a referendum.
Opening the conference, President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca stressed the need for dialogue and consensus if the Constitution were to be changed. “Any change can only take place through dialogue and a wide consensus-building process” she said.
A number of former politicians, including Tonio Borg, Alex Sceberras Trigona and Michael Frendo, addressed the conference, which was mainly attended by law students.
Constitutional lawyer Austin Bencini moderated the debate.
Malta saw its first Constitution when it became independent in 1964. Major changes were last introduced in 1974, when the island became a republic.