The next President should not come from the Labour Party camp, Opposition leader Adrian Delia insisted once more on Monday.
Addressing a press conference, Dr Delia said he had held talks with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on the upcoming nomination of a new president, but had not heard back on his request for the next head of state to come from the Nationalist Party fold.
“We had backed the appointment of Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, and now it is time for the prime minister to show the same goodwill and back a president from the opposing political camp,” he said.
Earlier this month, Times of Malta had reported how the PN had put forward a number of names for the nomination but that these were not likely to be considered by Castille, which was leaning towards former Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella.
Dr Delia on Monday also renewed his party's call for presidents to be approved by a two-thirds majority in the House.
This, he said, would ensure that presidents were truly representative of the entire country.
Chairpersons should enjoy trust of both sides
Chairpersons of national entities should also be appointed following such a vote to ensure they were both competent and impartial - enjoying the trust of both sides of Parliament.
Monday’s press conference also saw Dr Delia, flanked by MEP hopeful Frank Psaila and MP Chris Said, question why the Venice Commission’s proposed reform of the island’s democratic structures had not yet been introduced.
"On December 17, the Venice Commission published its recommendations for Malta. Yet, weeks and months have passed and the government has not taken any action," he said.
The government has said it agrees with the overarching sentiment of the Commission’s report on Malta, but insists the details would have to be worked out.
To this end, the recommendations have been handed over to the committee tasked with reforming the Constitution.
READ: What rule of law experts said about Malta - and why it matters
Dr Delia, however, said that both the PN and the Labour Party agreed with the Commission and so its recommendations for an improved democracy should be introduced with immediately.
“We cannot keep dragging our feet on something so essential to our democracy,” he said.
Among the various points, Dr Delia said while the attorney general was the government's legal consultant, an independent prosecutor-general should be appointed.