[WATCH] Coleiro Preca hints at a more active role of the presidency

The new presidency will have a “more active and effective role,” president-designate Marie Louise Coleiro Preca told MaltaToday. 

She said that the Labour Party already envisaged this new role for Malta’s head of state prior to last year’s general elections.

Presidential designate Marie Louise Coleiro Preca

“The constitution only defines the President’s competences very vaguely, so it’s not an issue of whether the head of state is restricted from doing something or not,” Coleiro Preca said.

Asked by MaltaToday whether the President’s lack of executive power would hold her back from giving the presidency a more meaningful role, the Qormi-based MP said that executive power does not stop at merely passing legislation in parliament.

“As the Prime Minister announced yesterday, several priorities of the social sector will be transferred under the office of the President. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done under the form of cooperation,” the president-designate said.

She hoped that the contribution of the President in this sector could lead to bipartisan consensus on the legislation presented in parliament.

The Family Minister was chosen yesterday by the Prime Minister to succeed George Abela. She will be the ninth president of the Republic, taking office on 4th April 2014.

Announcing his decision yesterday evening, the Prime Minister said that Coleiro Preca, who at 55 will be the youngest head of state, was chosen because the next President "needs to have a lot of energy." He added that the current family minister would serve as the country's social soul.