Malta’s New President? The Names Being Touted In The Run-Up To The Presidency
We are less than three months away from the end of President George Vella’s term which is set to end on 4th April.
In mid-December of 2023, the President delivered what he said was his final speech on Republic Day since his term in office was soon coming to a close.
Whereas before, in order for a President to be appointed, the Government required a simple majority to back the appointment, following an amendment to the Constitution in 2020, the newly appointed President would need the backing of two-thirds of the House of Representatives, ie. a qualified majority.
This means that Vella is the last President to be given the role with the backing of just the majority of the MPs.
Therefore, unless the Government has a two-thirds majority in Parliament, the President must be appointed with the Opposition’s backing. Currently, the Labour Government does not possess a two-thirds majority.
This recent amendment may either bring about a healthy democratic debate for who is to be Malta’s new President, or else bring forth an impasse within Parliament.
Either way, now, more than ever before, possible names from either side of the room and all walks of life are being touted as possible presidential candidates.
These are some of the names that are being mentioned:
Helena Dalli
She is currently the European Commissioner for Equality and is a former Labour Minister. During the 2013 legislature, Dalli was Minister for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties.
She holds a PhD in Political Sociology from the University of Nottingham.
Dalli had spearheaded major reforms for the LGBT+ community, including civil unions, gay marriage and a gender identity law.
In 1996, Dalli was elected to the Parliament of Malta and appointed as Parliamentary Secretary for Women’s Rights in the Office of Alfred Sant as Prime Minister.
She was re-elected during the five subsequent elections, rendering Dalli the second most elected woman in Maltese history.
Karmenu Vella
He is the former European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries and a long-serving Parliamentarian and Minister holding various Portfolios, including Minister for Tourism and Minister for Public Works within the Labour Party.
He graduated as an architect and Civil Engineer in 1973 and was awarded a Master of Science degree in Tourism some years down the line.
Joe Mifsud
He was appointed as a Magistrate in 2015 and is known for passing social commentary when delivering his judgments.
Prior to his appointment, he was a litigation lawyer.
In 2006 he graduated as a Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta, with a dissertation on Palestinian Refugees.
He is a well-known observer of the Middle East and has served as International Secretary of the Labour Party.
The Opposition had recommended Mifsud as President.
Frank Bezzina
He was appointed as Acting President in 2022. Bezzina is a Pro-Rector at the University of Malta after having served as Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Management and Accountancy (FEMA) for five years. He has published several academic studies.
He was appointed Member of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Malta for a period of five years in 2018 and a non-executive Chairperson of WasteServ Malta Ltd on February 2020.
When President George Vella had reservations about an IVF bill, interim President Bezzina signed the bill while Vella was abroad
Evarist Bartolo
He has an extensive portfolio within the Labour Party, being a former Minister for European and Foreign Affairs and Minister for Education and Employment.
In 1975, Bartolo graduated from the University of Malta with a B.A.(Hons) degree in English literature.
About ten years later, he was awarded a scholarship for a diploma course in journalism at Stanford University. A few year later, he read for a Master’s in Education in Cardiff.
He was elected as Member of Parliament in 1992.
The year 2022 marked the end of his political career after he contested for the general election and was not re-elected. He then announced his retirement from politics.
Peppi Azzopardi
Peppi Azzopardi is popular Maltese personality, best known for hosting Malta’s longest-lasting TV programme and highly popular talk show Xarabank from 1997-2020.
He also hosts L-Istrina, a yearly telethon programme televised every Boxing Day in aid of the Malta Community Chestfund.
Peppi Azzopardi graduated in political science, journalism and communications from the University of Malta.
While Azzopardi is not affiliated with any of the main political parties, he is a long standing activist, voicing out his opinions on prominent social issues like the criminal justice system, immigration and the rule of law.
When he younger, he founded a group called Tan-Numri, a collective of youngsters who organised public protests of social matters, were they sometimes ended up being beaten by police for protesting against authorities.
Who would you like to see as Malta’s coming President?
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