President George Abela’s suggestion that it’s time for Malta to have two national days – Independence Day and Republic Day – rather than five, should be agreed upon by the Government and Opposition.

The fact that Malta has five national days – in reality an absurd situation – came about due to national reconciliation efforts by then Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami soon after the Nationalist Party was elected to office in 1987.

Back then, after 16 years of a polarising Socialist Government, Maltese society was sharply divided and in need of healing; a bipartisan agreement over Malta’s national days was one way of achieving this. Parliament therefore agreed to five national days, June 7 (Sette Guigno), March 31 (Freedom Day) September 8 (Victory Day), September 21 (Independence Day) and December 13 (Republic Day).

Speaking on Republic Day earlier this month, Dr Abela said Malta was now “mature enough” to come to a “wide consensus” to reduce the number of national days. His choice of Independence Day and Republic Day was based on the fact that both occasions have a particular significance in the constitutional development of the country.

Although a country should ideally have one national day – and we believe this should be Independence Day – the President’s suggestion should be taken on board. Dr Abela’s option appeals to both sides of the political divide and makes sense from the perspective of Malta’s development as a nation.

Nobody can deny that Malta became a sovereign nation state on September 21, 1964; likewise there is no doubt that the island becoming a Republic on December 13, 1974, was an important constitutional development in our history.

The fact that the President – a former deputy leader of the Labour Party –had no problem recommending that March 31 (Freedom Day) should not be a national day is significant.

Closely associated with former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff and commemorating the day the British military base in Malta closed in 1979, this date was unwisely Malta’s sole national day up to 1987. There was absolutely no justification for this.

However, this was Mr Mintoff’s attempt at trying to eliminate the significance of Independence Day, which was brought about by a Nationalist Government, and to rewrite history so as to give the impression that it was his Labour government that achieved sovereignty.

Shamefully, Independence Day was not even a public holiday prior to 1987.

Both Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and Labour leader Joseph Muscat have hinted that they are willing to discuss the President’s latest proposal, which is a good sign.

While expressing a preference for Independence Day, Eddie Fenech Adami has also said he agrees with his successor’s suggestion and that the time has come to reduce the number of national days.

“One has to take into consideration the events that occurred and our history. What is important is that we don’t stay as we are,” Dr Fenech Adami said.

Although it is unlikely that discussions between the two political parties will take place on this subject before the next election, the parties’ electoral manifestoes should include a pledge to work towards bringing this about.

This would show, to quote the President, that Malta is “mature enough” to come to a “wide consensus” over this matter. And there is no valid reason to wait any longer.