President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca would not comment on whether her successor George Vella would replace her at the helm of the Constitutional reform steering committee.
The government announced on Tuesday it was nominating Dr Vella to take over from Ms Coleiro Preca as Malta's tenth head of state when she vacates the position next month.
The government statement, as well as a tweet by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat both pointedly did not refer to President Coleiro Preca’s current role at the helm of the steering committee for a Constitutional convention.
Watch: Constitutional reform committee to handle reform
President Coleiro Preca had signalled her intention to continue chairing the committee, which is tasked with laying out the ground work ahead of a highly anticipated Constitutional reform.
Cabinet has unanimously resolved a vote of thanks to @presidentMT for her sterling work. We are glad that she will continue with her contribution towards #Malta society through the Foundation for Social Wellbeing -JM
— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) March 5, 2019
Sources however, have indicated that Dr Vella had intimated his wish to take over the reform when he is sworn in on April 4.
Asked about this, President Coleiro Preca on Wednesday said: “I think we should let the government communicate its decision on this. I’m sure we will hear about this soon enough.”
She would not comment further, saying she preferred not to weigh in on the matter.
Read: Calls for referendum on Constitutional reform.
President Coleiro Preca was fielding questions from Times of Malta at the fringes of an award ceremony for schools and companies that collected plastic bottle caps as part of an environmental campaign.