VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Malta’s President, Myriam Spiteri Debono, delivered a stark warning on the fragility of democratic values in a speech to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, marking Malta’s 60th anniversary in the Council. Despite strengthened legal frameworks, Spiteri Debono cautioned that hard-won freedoms face renewed threats from regressive forces.
She highlighted Malta’s recent formal recognition of the State of Palestine as a “principled reaffirmation” of the nation’s commitment to human rights, justice, and the dignity of all peoples. Describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as “catastrophic,” the President criticised Israeli retaliation, saying it had “far exceeded the established principles of necessity, distinction and proportionality.”
Turning to domestic issues, Spiteri Debono condemned a troubling “resurgence of harm” against women, suggesting that current violence may represent a backlash against decades of gender equality progress. She warned against reverting to patriarchal stereotypes in the name of tradition. As part of Malta’s response, the President cited the introduction of gender quotas in Parliament, stressing that a “critical mass” of women is essential for effective and legitimate democratic governance. Representation, she argued, must be meaningful rather than symbolic.
– photo Malta President Office –
(ITALPRESS).
