Repubblika expresses its sincere congratulations to Myriam Spiteri Debono who will be the President of Malta.
We also express our appreciation for the effort of the entire Parliament to reach a consensus and make an appropriate and agreed choice of the next President. This is not the first time that both sides of Parliament have agreed on who should be President. But this is the first time that the Constitution obliges both sides to reach an agreement. Although too often our politics lacks maturity and the pursuit of the national interest, the appointment of Myriam Spiteri Debono is an episode that gives us hope.
Myriam Spiteri Debono has served with loyalty and decency in public life and we strongly believe that this appointment will continue to reflect these values of her career.
At the same time the words of Myriam Spiteri Debono on 8th September 2021 when she made a speech at the official Victory Day ceremony are still ringing in our ears. That day Myriam Spiteri Debono recalled how they killed Daphne Caruana Galizia to silence her. That her murder was an execution linked to the investigations she was doing in the exercise of her profession as a journalist.
That day Myriam Spiteri Debono said that it would be good for everyone if we respect the work of those who do investigative journalism and spread the news, that journalism is the fourth pillar of democracy.
This was a rare if not unique recognition in the context of an official state ceremony.
Just as unique as was Myriam Spiteri Debono’s appeal that we need to repent and unite and stop gossiping and seeking partisan victories while dividing the people. That day she said that “The fight for justice and for fair and good governance is a continuous fight that challenges us every day. We should never stop being vigilant. We should unite. We should have the backbone to repair what was found to be broken and repair that which we realize needs to change or evolve.”
For us this speech by Myriam Spiteri Debono is a worthy manifesto for everyone who enters public life to serve and make a better country.
It is our sincere hope that this new Presidency inspires all the institutions and the community to “repair what was found to be broken,” which means implementing the recommendations of the public inquiry after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia which have been on the shelf since 2021.
It is our sincere hope that this new Presidency inspires all the institutions and the community to “repair what we realize needs to change or evolve,” which means launching the Constitutional Convention that has been promised since 2012 and that so far has always been postponed for one excuse or another.
We assure Myriam Spiteri Debono of our support in her new mission.