The parliamentary groups of the Labour Party and Nationalist Party are set to meet today to discuss the nomination of Myriam Spiteri Debono as the new President of the Republic.
If, as expected, the two groups separately agree on her nomination, Parliament will vote on it on Wednesday.
Parliament will not be meeting today, but according to Parliament’s website a sitting is scheduled for 5pm on Wednesday.
According to procedure, the sitting will be taken up by a motion of gratitude for the work carried out by the outgoing President, George Vella, following which the motion on the nomination of Spiteri Debono will be discussed.
A vote is expected to be taken at the end of the sitting, at 7pm.
Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech are to address the House on the motion of gratitude for Vella, and Spiteri Debono’s nomination.
Spiteri Debono was Speaker of the House of Representatives between 1996 and 1998.
Both parties have reached a consensus on her nomination, while also agreeing that former Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech serves as Acting President when she is away.
Spiteri Debono is set to be appointed President on 4 April, the same day that the term in office of incumbent George Vella expires.
Since Vella’s appointment five years ago, constitutional changes mean that the President now requires the approval of a two-thirds majority, rather than a simple majority, to be appointed.
