Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1518068
11 EDITORIAL maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 27 MARCH 2024 MYRIAM Spiteri Debono is all set to be formally approved as the next president by parliament today after both sides of the House agreed to support her nomination. The 72-year-old notary was Speaker of the House between 1996 and 1998. It was a tumultuous pe- riod that saw the Labour government unable to hold on to its one-seat majority. Throughout, Spi- teri Debono navigated the choppy waters by using parliamentary procedure, rules and constitutional precepts as her guiding light. Despite having to deal with the antics of Dom Mintoff, a larger than life figure, and the anger and hurt of Labour Party supporters who saw their gov- ernment slip away from their hands, history will judge Spiteri Debono's performance in those 22 months in a positive light. Her constitutionalist approach and progressive credentials are likely to serve as a source of com- fort for the current Labour administration that had to deal with George Vella's moral dilemmas when it came to laws on pre-implantation genetic diagno- sis of embryos and abortion. It still has to be seen how Spiteri Debono will act if faced with ethically contentious issues but if past experience is anything to go by, she will follow the constitutionalist approach that the president has a positive obligation to sign on laws approved by parliament. But Spiteri Debono should also serve as a source of comfort for the Opposition. She showed mor- al authority in 2021, when delivering the keynote speech at the Victory Day commemoration cere- mony in Valletta. She not only called for national redemption when remembering Daphne Caruana Galizia, the jour- nalist murdered in 2017, but also delivered a mis- sive against partisan bickering and call for vigilance against corrupt governance. Spiteri Debono also made it a point to distinguish between the politically-charged murders of Ray- mond Caruana and Karin Grech – both victims of the highly-charged prevalent political situations in 1986 and 1979 respectively – and that of Caruana Galizia. "Daphne Caruana Galizia's killing was different, it was brutal and macabre… with the determined intention of shutting her up, an execution connect- ed to her investigative work as a journalist," she had said, going on to call for a newfound respect for investigative journalism as the fourth pillar of democracy. Spiteri Debono may lack the charisma to become the country's fundraiser-in-chief, a role that has come to be expected of the president as head of the Community Chest Fund Foundation, but she will undoubtedly imbue the office with the integrity and moral authority it deserves. The presidency has no real power, except in clear- ly defined exceptional circumstances. But the office is also moulded in the figure of the person occupy- ing the role. Spiteri Debono should use her moral authority to convince the major parties in setting up a constitutional convention representative of society to redraft the Constitution to better reflect today's society. She should also use her moral authority to convince government to move forward with amending the laws and give journalists, media operators and campaigners better protection. A promise to publish a White Paper, following the publication of the final report of the Media Experts Committee, has remained unfulfilled. If parliament approves Spiteri Debono's nomi- nation – there is nothing that suggests the motion will not garner a two-thirds majority – she will be formally appointed president on 4 April. This lead- er augurs that her appointment serves as a turning point in the manner by which the political leaders dispatch their collective duty towards the State. It is absurd that the appointment of a new pres- ident by parliament should have reached such a late stage because Robert Abela and Bernard Grech could not agree on a name. The Opposition may claim a victory of sorts by insisting that no one from Joseph Muscat's administration should be nomi- nated for president. Abela had no other choice but to retreat on his earlier proposal to nominate Hele- na Dalli. This type of haggling is to be expected in a situation where the president requires cross-party support. But this leader reiterates its belief that to avoid future impasses, the president should be chosen by the people in an election, similar to what happens in Austria and Ireland, where the president, like Malta, is largely ceremonial in nature. Myriam Spiteri Debono will give presidency integrity and moral authority maltatoday MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: KURT SANSONE EDITOR: PAUL COCKS Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt of these standards, effectively depriving us of the benefits of EU membership. As part of my MEP campaign, I am outlining my vision and priorities if elect- ed to the European Parliament. Ensuring the implementation of EU laws and standards will be among my foremost objec- tives. Labour MEPs cannot do that. They are too busy adoring 'Robert Muscat' and closing ranks on the daily scandals. I am dedicated entirely to en- suring that the rights we gained upon joining the EU are upheld in practice, including by em- powering organisations and citizens advocating for their rights. I will continue to take concrete actions to counteract the government's laissez-faire approach. Unfortunately, La- bour MEPs seem more pre- occupied with shielding the government than ensuring the effective implementation of EU laws for the benefit of all EU citizens. On 8 June, I urge you to use your vote to ensure EU standards and laws do not re- main a paper tiger. We joined Europe to secure higher standards in governance, democracy and quality of life. Instead, due to incompetence and lack of political will, government is breaching most of these standards, effectively depriving us of the benefits of EU membership