Fenech Adami to be sworn in as President this morning

Dr Eddie Fenech Adami will be sworn in as Malta's seventh President this morning at a special sitting of Parliament in the Grand Council Chamber of the Presidential Palace in Valletta.

The activities start at 11.18 a.m. when Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi arrives at the Palace Square via Republic Street and is accorded a National Salute by an AFM Guard of Honour.

Outgoing President Guido de Marco arrives shortly after. He will be accorded the National Salute and will inspect a guard of honour for the last time before entering the Palace.

The ceremony at the Grand Council Chamber starts at 11.30 a.m. when the President and the President-elect are escorted into the chamber by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Anton Tabone. Dr Fenech Adami will than take the oath of office as President, read a proclamation and sign it. The sitting of the House will then be adjourned and President Fenech Adami will deliver his inaugural address.

The President and former President de Marco, accompanied by their wives, will then go to the main Palace balcony to wave to the crowd.

President Fenech Adami is expected to leave the Palace at 12.20 p.m. when he will be accorded a National Salute and will inspect a guard of honour. There will be a fly-past by aircraft of the AFM Air Squadron.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami will proceed up Republic Street to the War Memorial in Floriana where the President will lay a wreath.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami then proceed to San Anton Palace, their official residence.

Dr Fenech Adami was elected President by the House of Representatives on Monday, with the Opposition voting against.