Three ex-Presidents have all stated that whoever occupies Malta's highest office should exercise caution when it comes to making public statements.

Former presidents Eddie Fenech Adami, Guido de Marco and Ugo Mifsud Bonnici were contacted for their views on whether it was appropriate for President George Abela to have called a press conference last week after a series of articles appeared in another newspaper, Malta Today, reporting allegations of financial irregularities within the Office of the President.

The newspaper also raised questions after the Malta Community Chest Fund employed two cameramen who worked for a production company in which the President's spokesman is a director.

However, Dr Abela's reaction was to call a press conference at San Anton Palace on July 3, in which he announced that the government had appointed a board of inquiry to establish whether his former right-hand man, Olaf Terribile, leaked confidential documents to the media to "create a story" about his office.

This move was considered unorthodox by many in political circles. So was it appropriate?

Dr Fenech Adami said a president should only respond to criticism if something serious had been said and merited a reply.

"A reply does not necessarily mean giving a press conference; it can be done through a press release. I feel a President, should speak as little as possible," he said.

Prof. de Marco said he would deal with such situations "very carefully", because a President had to be very cautious before going public, even though he was certain Dr Abela was doing his utmost to deal with this situation.

He did not wish to criticise Dr Abela because he felt every person had his own problems and way of dealing with it.

"I'm not criticising his former private secretary either, because I don't know what issues are involved, but I'm sure Dr Abela and Mr Terribile would have done their best to avoid this issue becoming public," Prof. de Marco said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici insisted he would not pass judgement on how those who came after him should lead the presidency.

"I ran it in a certain manner and the country judged me by my actions, but I don't believe I have a right to say what I would have done in such a situation... What is happening at the moment is a delicate situation."

When Dr Mifsud Bonnici held the presidency between 1994 and 1999, he had issued a Manual for the President of the Republic, where he wrote that the role required "prestige that is best maintained through silence and measured language..."