New president should be appointed by two-thirds majority, PD says

Malta’s next president should be appointed with a two-thirds parliamentary majority, the Democratic Party (PD) said on Thursday.

The party said it was calling for a Constitutional amendment to be passed before president Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca’s term ends.

The current President’s term ends in April.

“The president of the Republic should be a figure that unites people and should be appointed in the national interest and not the interests of the party in government,” PD leader Godfrey Farrugia said.

The party noted that in his new year’s day address, the Prime Minister said that the next president would soon be appointed through a parliamentary resolution.

It said that if the Prime Minister truly wanted to show his desire strengthen Malta’s democracy, it is would be fitting for the president to be elected with more than a simple majority.

PD MP Marlene Farrugia said that whoever is appointed should be a person of integrity, competent and worthy of the role.

“The oath taken by the president is to uphold, protect and defend the constitution and PD is recommending that the next president have a State Council to guide and advise it,” Farrugia said, adding that the suggestion had already been made by former President’s Guido De Marco and George Abela.

"We need to pave the way to unify a much divided country by building bridges," Godfrey Farrugia said. “The Democratic party is committed to promoting and fostering democratic wellbeing.”