Over the past four years, this country has had more than its fair share of constitutional and institutional problems, with governability and the rule of law being seriously questioned. The last thing it wants is a controversy involving the President. But a situation is evolving that, unless well handled, would have serious repercussions.

It all started in October 2015, when a super car going at high speed went out of control and ploughed right into spectators, injuring 23 people during the annual charity event Paqpaqli għall-Istrina. Of course, L-Istrina, is one of the main – if not the main – fund-raising event organised by the Malta Community Chest Fund. Because of this close relationship between the President and L-Istrina, what happened during the charity car show led to fingers being pointed at the Office of the President in terms of the arrangements in place, more specifically, safety.

Regrettably, certain statements made since by both political and judicial quarters only served to exacerbate matters and cast even more shadows on the Presidency. The best way forward would have been to allow the courts to do their job and the Presidency to stay out of it. But that was not to be.

Two weeks ago, the President testified in the criminal case against 13 people accused of causing involuntary bodily harm during the ill-fated car show. She insisted the event was organised by a third party and that she did not have a direct role in the organisation. The Community Chest Fund’s interest was only to raise funds and it was not the organiser, the President pointed out.

Her predecessor appeared in the same courtroom a week later but what he said was very different: “Paqpaqli għall-Istrina was definitely a Malta Community Chest Fund event. It was a great crowd-puller and it definitely fell under the Presidency,” he told the presiding magistrate.

In what appeared to be a damage-control exercise, the Office of the President on Saturday issued a statement – titled ‘The Office of the President appeals for the truth’ – “to rectify a series of inaccuracies surrounding its involvement in [the car show] that bear absolutely no resemblance to the facts”.

The President was ill-advised to testify in court, both because she did not have to and, more importantly, because it was likely to provoke a reaction, as, indeed, it did.

The President was also ill-advised with regard to Saturday’s statement, which raises a number of issues. Perhaps the most striking is the fact that the statement tries to separate the President from the Community Chest Fund. Legally one can make a distinction between the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation and the Office of the President but for the people of this country the President is the Community Chest Fund.

Also, if the Office of the President wants nothing “to hinder the vital quest for the truth, so that justice can be truly served”, it should refrain from making such statements as that released on Saturday.

The fallout from the evidence given in court by the President and her predecessor may not have led to a crisis involving the country’s highest office. But it has raised serious questions about how the Presidency operates and who gives advice.

All – especially the Presidency itself – must exercise restraint if the President’s credibility is not to be dented.

This is a Times of Malta print editorial

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