The front page article entitled ‘President seeking new term’, (The Sunday Times of Malta, February 25), and continued on page 6, includes a ‘Historical note’ which states the following:

“In Malta’s political history, none of those elected to the post of President of Malta served a second term. This tradition could have been overturned in 1999, when the administration of the time, led by Eddie Fenech Adami, proposed an amendment to the Constitution in order for President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici to stay in office for another term. But the Labour Opposition objected, despite former Labour leader Alfred Sant having an excellent relationship with Dr Mifsud Bonnici.

“Dr Sant argued that in the political climate prevailing then, it would be more appropriate to elect a President from the Labour camp.  The Labour Opposition proposed former minister Edwin Grech for the position.

“The PN government did not take up the suggestion and Parliament elected then Deputy Prime Minister Guido de Marco as Malta’s next President.”

All this is fake history. Right from the start, the Fenech Adami administration strictly proposed to replace Dr Mifsud Bonnici with Prof. de Marco. That was the only issue.

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