Update 5: Labour Parliamentary Group, party administration pay last respects to de Marco

The cortege then passed though the following roads in Hamrun: Bishop Priest Mifsud Street, in front of the Immaculate Conception Band Club, in front of the Immaculate Conception Parish, and Manuel Magri Road.

The funeral cortege then reached the Nationalist Party headquarters at Pietà for the last farewell at around 9.30 am as scheduled.

Upon his arrival, a huge banner was unfurled from the top of the PN headquarters bearing the inscription: “Grazzi Guido” ("Thanks Guido")

The PN leadership led by Secretary-General Paul Borg Olivier, acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg and various other officials of the party’s administration were present en force for the final salute to de Marco at the Dar Centrali in Pietà.

Hundreds of people saluted the arrival of the coffin with a composed applause.

Among those who were present at de Marco’s final farewell at the Dar Centrali there was former President Eddie Fenech Adami and Pietru Pawul Busuttil, who had been defended by de Marco when he was accused with the murder of Raymond Caruana in 1986.

The funeral cortege then passed through Mountbatten Road, Joe Gasan Road, Dun Gorg Preca Road, and finally through National Road in Blata l-Bajda to reach Floriana, passing through Portes Des Bombes, St Anne Road and Great Siege Road.

At this point, the funeral cortege  passed through the following streets in Valletta: Marsamxett Road, St Elmo Road, Merchants Street, in front of the Saint Domenic Parish Church, St Christopher Street, Saint Paul Street, in front of Saint Paul’s Parish Church, Castille Place, Pope Pius V Road, Ordinance Street, Republic Street, in front of the La Vallette band club, in front of the King’s Own band club, in front of the Law Courts and finally at the Palace in St George’s Square.

At 10 am, the funeral cortege carrying De Marco’s coffin arrived at St George’s Square, where it was taken to the entrance of the Palace, where it will remain lying in state. The coffin was greeted by Hamrun Parish Priest, to the applause of the crowd which gathered behind the barriers in Palace Square. Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, who was accompaying his mother, Violet, into the Palace, could be seen shaking hands with well-wishers.

At 10.50 am, President George Abela paid his last respects to former President de Marco in a private viewing of de Marco's open coffin. Also present for the private viewing were his son Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco, and his two daughters Giannella and Fiorella

At 11.10 am, ten minutes behind schedule, the public viewing of de Marco's coffin started. The first person to pay his respects to the deceased former President was President Abela, followed by acting Prime Minister Tonio Borg.

Among the first people that paid their final respects to de Marco’s coffin there was former Presidents Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, and Eddie Fenech Adami, former Speaker Louis Galea, Resources and Rural Affairs' Minister George Pullicino, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, Health Minister Joe Cassar, Education and Family Minister Dolores Cristina.

They were soon followed Parliamentary Assistants Franco Debono, Philip Mifsud, Robert Arrigo and Charlo' Bonnici, Deputy Speaker Censu Galea, PN backbenchers Francis Agius, Joseph Falzon, Francis Zammit Dimech and PN Parliamentary Group whip David Agius.

At noon, a PN administration delegation led by Party Secretary-General Paul Borg-Olivier, Deputy Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Debono, information secretary Frank Psaila, Executive Council President Marthese Portelli, Margaret Mercieca and PN parliamentary group whip David Aguis paid their last respects to the deceased former President.

At 4 pm, a Labour Parliamentary Group delegation and members of the PL administration paid their last respects to the former President lying in State at the Palace.

The PL parliamentary group delegation was led Michelle Muscat, wife of Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, who is indisposed after suffering a hairline fracture at the Ball of the August Moon, and PL Deputy leader for Parlamentary Affairs Anglu Farrugia who led the party's parliamentary group.

On the other hand, the PL administration delegation was led by Secretary to the Executive Lydia Abela, President Stefan Zrinzo-Azzopardi,  Vice-President Louis Gatt, party CEO James Piscopo, organising secretary Ray Azzopardi, International Secretary Alex Sceberras-Trigona, and local councils' coordinator Claudette Abela-Baldacchino.

De Marco will be lying in state today from 11am till 7pm, tomorrow between 9 am and 1pm and between 4am and 7pm, and on Monday 16 August 2010 from 9am till noon.

On Monday at 11 am, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, who had to cut short his private visit abroad, will pay his final respects to de Marco.

In the Palace there will also be a book of condolences which the public will be able to sign.