Well-wishers hail new President

The ceremonial nature of the Presidential office and, possibly the gloomy weather, drew only a few thousand curious onlookers - Maltese and tourists - as Eddie Fenech Adami emerged from the Palace as Malta's new President yesterday morning.

Those lined up behind barriers set up around Palace Square and along Republic Street, in Valletta first greeted outgoing President Guido de Marco, who was symbolically escorted to the Palace by mounted police for the last time and later cheered the new President and Mrs Fenech Adami as they left Valletta.

The crowd's exhilarated spirits and the cries of "Eddie, Eddie", however, were a mere shadow of the applause and cheers that the former Prime Minister received just under a year ago after winning the general election, just weeks after winning the EU referendum.

An army contingent accorded a national salute to Prof. de Marco who, in true fashion, arrived in Valletta about 15 minutes behind schedule. The police - about 100 of whom were on duty in Valletta alone to ensure the whole thing ran smoothly - then temporarily removed the barriers to allow a military parade to take place and the crowd was allowed to move closer to the Palace, where they could follow the swearing in ceremony and the new President's speech through loudspeakers mounted beneath the Palace façade.

Labour MPs Josè Herrera, Anglu Farrugia and Michael Farrugia, who walked into the Presidential palace wearing black ties as a symbol of the party's "mourning", were booed by front liners listening to Dr Fenech Adami's speech in the square.

After the swearing in, the President and Mrs Fenech Adami, accompanied by Prof. Guido de Marco and his wife, proceeded to the main balcony of the Palace to salute the crowd.

The crowd was again positioned behind barriers and Dr Fenech Adami was accorded the national salute by the army contingent. The President inspected a guard of honour.

Three Islander aircraft and two Alouette helicopters of the AFM Air Squadron then flew past.

Dr Fenech Adami was escorted down Republic Street towards the War Memorial, in Floriana where he placed a wreath, accompanied by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife.

The new President then proceeded to San Anton Palace.