Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
TRUTH IS OF NO COLOUR WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 • ISSUE 1261 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday €1.95 ROBERT Abela and Bernard Grech will have to agree on a new president before April, unless they want to ex- tend George Vella's stay at San Anton. With the new two-thirds majority rule being used for the first time, con- sensus between the government and Opposition is a must to install a new president. And with no chance of bending the rules of the game, the appointment of a new president will be a test of maturity for both leaders. The choice of president is not some- thing they can postpone indefinitely. But this key appointment is not the only moment of reckoning for the po- litical class in 2024. The European Parliament election in June will serve as a barometer of gov- ernment's performance so far. The result will determine the extent of the Cabinet reshuffle, which the Prime Minister will have to do anyhow if he nominates Chris Fearne as Malta's next European Commissioner. But more importantly, the EP election could determine the future of Nation- alist Party leader Bernard Grech. He has promised to step aside if the PN does not win three seats but left open the question as to what happens if the party does win back the third seat – a very likely possibility – but fails to sig- nificantly bridge the vote gap with La- bour. After George Vella: Who? PAGES 2, 3 • Abela's headaches PAGE 6 • Who replaces Fearne? PAGES 8, 9 • Grech's do- or-die PAGE 10 • Does Metsola's Brussels train stop in Malta? PAGE 11 • The anti-immigrant rhetoric PAGE 12 • Will Malta win an Olympic medal? PAGE 13 • Inflation woes PAGE 13 • Happening in 2024 PAGES 14,15 Six extra leave days for 2024 holidays on weekends SIX public and national holi- days will fall on a weekend in 2024, obliging employers to add on the 'lost' days of rest to employees' leave entitlement. The feasts of patron saint Paul (10th February), saints Peter and Paul (29th June), and Independence Day (21st September) will fall on a Satur- day; while Freedom Day (31st March) falls on Easter Sun- day – which puts Good Friday on the 29th March – and both Victory Day (8 September) and the Immaculate Conception (8th December) fall on a Sun- day. Under Maltese law, workers are entitled to a holiday if any such national or public holi- day falls on a Saturday or on a Sunday, entitling them to a day of vacation leave in addition to the leave entitlement for that particular year. This concession, which had long been part of Malta's laws, was removed in 2005 under a Nationalist administration in a bid to recoup lost days of productivity. However, it was reinstated in 2021 by the La- bour administration to ensure public holidays falling on a weekend are compensated by additional vacation leave. PAGE 4 MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt