Dr George Vella was sworn in at special sitting of the House of Representatives.
Dr George Vella became Malta’s tenth President today, and he had a busy first day! It began with a Mass at 10am at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna.
He then walked to the Palace where a special sitting of Parliament was held in the Grand Council Chamber. There the oath of office was administered by the Speaker of the House, Anglu Farrugia.
Taking to the streets
Then it was back outside to Pope Pius V Street where the Armed Forces of Malta fired a salute using vintage guns and trumpeters sounded a fanfare.
The new President read a proclamation declaring that he had assumed the new duties before giving his first inaugural address.
Four helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft of the AFM performed a fly-past overhead.
New address
President Vella then proceeded to San Anton Palace which will be his home for the next five years. There he met his new staff and received courtesy calls from Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Adrian Delia.
His new role is largely ceremonial; however it is the President who decides who to appoint as Prime Minister after a general election, basing his decision upon who - in his judgement - commands a majority of the members of the House of Representatives.
President Vella can also summon and dissolve the House of Representatives and call a general election on the advice of the Prime Minister.
And finally, he can decide whether to dismiss the Prime Minister or dissolve the House if Government loses a confidence vote.
We wish him the best of luck in his new role!