Choice of new President humiliated thousands - Sant

Labour leader Alfred Sant described yesterday as "a day of mourning" because of the appointment of Eddie Fenech Adami as President.

Dr Sant addressed the media, flanked by members of the party administration, Labour MPs and Labour councillors, most of whom were dressed in black suits and ties. Anglu Farrugia went so far as to wear a black shirt.

Some, however, including George Vella, John Attard Montalto, Josè Herrera and deputy leader Michael Falzon, wore patterned ties rather than the plain black ties others wore.

Dr Sant again described Dr Fenech Adami as "divisive" and argued the MLP was "the most democratic party" in Malta.

He said Dr Fenech Adami was appointed after "weeks and months of manoeuvring by a clique involved in a power game". The appointment had "devalued the Presidency", because of the manipulation, he said.

"In a modern democracy, the government should not bulldoze over its opponents and keep all the power to itself. It should also respect the aspirations of those in minority," he said.

Dr Sant argued that "hundreds, thousands of people" were humiliated by the choice made by the government and the fact that MLP officials were booed - by the people outside the Palace while on their way to the ceremony - showed that divisiveness still reigned and that appointing "a divisive person" was unlikely to bring much unity.

Dr Sant said the MLP would "act in a constitutionally correct manner" with the new President but it would not do more than that.

He said the MLP had been justified in its boycott of Censu Tabone because he had been appointed President when talks between the two parties were going on about the matter.

With Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, the MLP had excellent relations and used to have informal talks and inform him about what was going on while in opposition and while in government. Dr Mifsud Bonnici had told Dr Sant that Labour ministers were keeping him more informed than Nationalist ministers used to do.

With the outgoing President, Guido de Marco, the MLP just conformed to Constitutional provisions and did not have any meetings in private with him.

And the MLP did not make any comments in parliament when the vote of thanks was taken last week because it did not want things to escalate, Dr Sant said.

"But the nomination of Dr Fenech Adami is the worst one ever," he said.