Letters • February 22 2004

The next President of Malta

Saviour Sammut
Safi

I believe I am sounding the opinion of many other Maltese citizens in suggesting to the authorities concerned to seek to appoint as the next President of Malta someone who is able to represent the entire nation and not a section of it.
I implore the authorities to give this nation a well-deserved break from designating a politician to the highest post of the Republic. Whether it's Dom or Ed they simply would not be a unifying factor, something which this country has for long desperately needed. Let it be a footballer, an artist, a literary contributor, an impartial eclectic respectable person who with his or her words or deeds has not antagonised practically half of the nation.
The latest survey in another section of the press has shown that it is merely 54 percent who would like to see Eddie at the post. That is simply not enough. Let's come up with a list of persons who have accomplished worthy achievements for the entire country in their own domain. The person who gets the backing of two thirds of our representatives will be worthy of being the President of this Republic. And while we are at it, let's give the President more legislative and executive functions rather than the ceremonial figure successive Presidents have been. Let the person to occupy the highest post of the Republic be given the executive power to guide the ruling party so as to curb the horrendous nepotism and clientalism with which this country has been ruled for decades. The President should have a track record of impartiality in judgement and opinion. He or she should be inspirational to every Maltese law abiding citizen.