EU Council president Donald Tusk and former ministers Louis Grech and George Vella topped the list of the Gieh ir-Republika awards today. They have been made companions of the National Order of Merit. 

Former ministers Leo Brincat, Joe Debono Grech and Louis Galea were made officers of the Order of Merit.

The honour on Mr Tusk was bestowed 'for strengthening relations between Malta and EU particularly during Maltese presidency'.

MP Marlene Farrugia did not take kindly to the award given to former Labour minister Joe Debono Grech, with whom she had an incident in the House.

The awards ceremony was held at the Palace to mark Republic Day. The awards and medals were presented by President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. A parade was held at Palace Square.

The title of Honorary Officers was awarded to Borislav Tzetkov Boyanov - honorary consul in Bulgaria, for strengthening bilateral relations and Jubran Taweel - former Palestinian ambassador to Malta

The new Members are: John Bencini (trade unionist), Joe Camilleri (Labour Party activist and former secretary to Dom Mintoff) Paul Camilleri Cauchi (artist), Francis Ebejer (author, posthumous), Reginald Fava (businessman), Dominic Fenech (University lecturer), Charles Flores (journalist), Godfrey Anthony Laferla (surgeon) and Richard A Matrenza (former Labour candidate and diplomat).

The Medal for Service to the Republic was awarded to: Lorenzo Attard (who distinguished himself in the second world war, posthumous), Gertrude Abela (breast cancer support activist), Joe Attard (former Zejtun Mayor posthumous), Anna Calleja (director, Special Olympics Malta), George Farrugia (Malta carnival activist), Godfrey Grima (journalist), Susan Mulvaney (broadcaster, posthumous), Joseph Serracino (writer), Salvu Vella ('custodian' of Comino), George Zahra (Carnival activist) and Charles (Carmelo) Zammit (music teacher).