Speaker Anġlu Farrugia to fill in for President until Sunday

President Myriam Spiteri Debono is in Rome to attend funeral of Pope Francis

April 25, 2025| Times of Malta 1 min read
Speaker Anglu Farrugia taking his oath as Speaker in 2022, when a new legislative term began. Photo: DOI/Clodagh O'Neill\Speaker Anglu Farrugia taking his oath as Speaker in 2022, when a new legislative term began. Photo: DOI/Clodagh O'Neill\

Parliamentary Speaker Anglu Farrugia will serve as acting President while Myriam Spiteri Debono is abroad to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, the Office of the President said on Friday.

Spiteri Debono is in Rome and will be among the dignitaries attending the late pontiff’s funeral at the Vatican on Friday. Pope Francis died on April 21 aged 88.

The President is expected to return to Malta and her function as Head of State on Sunday. 

The former acting president, former MP and minister Francis Zammit Dimech, also died on April 21. He was buried following a funeral on Thursday.

Under article 49 of Malta’s constitution, when no acting president is appointed then the Speaker of the House shall perform those functions.

Farrugia has served as Speaker since 2013, when Labour returned to power following a period of Nationalist government.

A former police officer and lawyer by profession, he previously served as deputy leader of the Labour Party.

Apart from President Spiteri Debono, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Archbishop Charles Scicluna are also expected to attend the papal funeral. 

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