President George Abela this morning suggested three methods how the country could move forward in updating the Constitution.

Speaking at the Republic Day ceremony this morning, Dr Abela welcomed the fact that both political parties were acknowledging the need to update the Constitution.

What was important now, he said, was that the two sides did not move on parallel lines, but that they converged.

Dr Abela reiterated his intention to convene a public forum next year to discuss what Constitutional changes were needed.

He said that there were three ways how the country could move forward in updating the Constitution.

The House Committee on Democratic Change could be reconvened or else, he said, the government and the opposition could hold direct talks with the participation of the President. The third possible way forward was the creation of a special assembly that would group politicians, members of civil society and other interested parties, to discuss what needed to be changed in the Constitution, and how. The outcome of the assembly's deliberations would then be presented to Parliament.

He observed that all three methods had been used in the past.

(The House Committee on Democratic Change ceased to function when the Opposition walked out last year following furious exchanges in parliament on the vote on the power station extension motion. The method of direct talks was adopted before the 1974 amendments while a special assembly charted Malta's course before self-government in 1921.)

Dr Abela did not go into what should be changed in the Constitution, but  underscored the importance of Chapter Four of the current Constitution which guarantees fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.

At the end of his speech, Dr Abela welcomed the fact that the government and the opposition over the past weeks had agreed on two issues which were important for Malta - the situation in Libya and a constitutional amendment on budget discipline as proposed by the EU last week.

The ceremony was preceded by Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral and a parade by the Armed Forces of Malta.

See President's address in full by clicking on the pdf below.