With the extent of the new President's powers yet to be clarified, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has insisted that putting her in charge of numerous commissions is “perfectly legal”.

Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca will, as President, still head several commissions in the social field and remain responsible for the national strategy against poverty, both of which are now within her portfolio as Social Policy Minister.

The commissions of which she will be in charge are not mentioned among the president’s constitutional roles.

Dr Muscat brushed off the suggestion that Ms Coleiro Preca would be retaining part of her ministerial portfolio, saying she would only be asked to lead a strategy on a nationwide policy.

“We sought advice and were told there was nothing wrong in the government delegating the overview of these systems to the president.”

He argued the nature of the other entities she would be in charge of were such that the distinction between the executive arm of the government and the presidency would be maintained.

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