Presidents should be elected by at least a two-thirds majority vote in Parliament and not by a simple majority, the Democratic Party said on Thursday.

In a statement, the party noted that Prime Minister Joseph Muscat had "gone on record" saying the next President would be appointed through a parliamentary resolution.

"If the Prime Minister wants to walk the talk in strengthening the well-being of our democracy, then it is timely that the President of the Republic be appointed by at least a two-thirds majority vote of the members of the House of Representatives," the party said.

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It called for a constitutional amendment before the termination of office of President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

President Coleiro Preca's term ends in April.

The next president should be backed by an advisory council of state which would give unbiased and fair expert advice, PD MP Marlene Farrugia said, adding this had been advocated by late President Guido de Marco and President Emeritus George Abela.

"We need to pave the way to unify a much divided country by building bridges," PD leader Godfrey Farrugia said.

"The President of the Republic should be a unifying figure and appointed in the national interest and not in the interest of the party in government," he added.