Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1513813
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 31 DECEMBER 2023 Looking forward 2024 Abela may still opt for a PN-leaning nominee with a lower profile, someone whom he deems trustworthy in a bid to send an inclusive message on the eve of MEP elections. Dolores Cristina, one of the three nominees presented to the PN's parliamentary group by Bernard Grech in a meeting held last September, could be an option. She already served as acting president and her moderate temperament and reputation for institutional correctness make her the ideal mother figure for nation. A Labourite who is palatable to the PN The most striking name to be considered by the PN was that of Magistrate Joe Mifsud, a for- mer international secretary of the Labour Party. The latter has already declared that he believes in the sanctity of life from conception to death, thus endearing himself to conserva- tives, but this could pose prob- lems for Abela, whose party is electorally committed to com- mence a national discussion on euthanasia and may also con- sider amending abortion laws by reintroducing the abortion amendment as originally word- ed before it was watered down, once Vella is out of the way. Much depends on wheth- er Abela really wants to ruffle feathers on sensitive moral issues. For appointing a con- servative Labourite to the post could be a convenient way for Abela to shelve potentially di- visive issues in his own party. A president without a party To secure the consent of the Opposition, Robert Abela may also opt for a candidate who does not hail from a political or partisan background. But as George Vella himself has observed, a degree of po- litical acumen is "an essential asset for the role". One risk is that, in the absence of this po- litical acumen, the person ap- pointed could be relegated to a ceremonial rubber stamp. Abela has already opted for a non-political figure when he appointed economics professor and pro-rector Frank Bezzina to serve as acting president. It was Bezzina who signed a new IVF law allowing doctors to perform genetic testing on em- bryos, while George Vella, who had signalled his discomfort, was abroad. Abela may proceed to elevate Bezzina to the presidency or to opt for another high-profile ac- ademic. One of the names pro- posed by Bernard Grech for the consideration of his parliamen- tary group was that of Mari- ka Mizzi, a press officer for George Abela when he served as president and presently a fundraising officer in Caritas. But it is doubtful whether Miz- zi has the political gravitas to become Malta's head of state. Robert Abela may also resort to a game of musical chairs, by considering commissioners al- ready appointed with the con- sent of the Opposition in var- ious roles. One public appointee who enjoyed the trust of the Oppo- sition was Jesmond Saliba, who hails from a PN background but who was appointed Com- missioner for Voluntary Or- ganizations after gaining unan- imous backing in Parliament's Public Appointments Commit- tee in August 2021. An extended term for Vella George Vella can be appoint- ed for a second term although he has clearly said he would like to retire in April. However, he will have to stay in office until an agreement with the Opposition is reached on a replacement. This could indefinitely prolong Vella's term as has already happened with Ombudsman Anthony Mifsud whose term was pro- longed by 20 months due to a failure to reach a deal. Yet as Vella himself has warned Malta would risk ap- pearing in front of the world "as a nation that can't agree on a head of state." This may well be the in- evitable consequence of a well-meaning but half-baked reform which imposes a need to seek consensus on a biparti- san context, instead of handing over to a wider electoral col- lege or directly to the people as happens in other parliamenta- ry democracies like Portugal, Ireland, Finland, and Austria. rubber stamp, or breath of fresh air? Left to right, from top: Dolores Cristina, Evarist Bartolo, Frank Bezzina, Helena Dalli, Jesmond Saliba, Karmenu Vella, Magistrate Joe Mifsud, Marika Mizzi and Michael Falzon