VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – President Myriam Spiteri Debono used her Republic Day address on Saturday to warn of a global rise in authoritarianism while calling for political consensus to protect Malta’s democratic institutions and social cohesion.
Speaking as Malta marked more than five decades as a republic, the President pointed to troubling international trends, including the growth of far-right movements in parts of Europe and political shifts abroad. She warned that democratic systems are increasingly under strain, with civil society space shrinking in some countries.
“Democracy is facing threats due to various circumstances: authoritarianism is experiencing a rise,” she said, reflecting on Malta’s recent presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, which concluded in November amid what she described as a period of serious international challenges.
Spiteri Debono appealed for national unity on key institutional appointments, stressing the need for political agreement on a new Chief Justice ahead of the incumbent’s retirement, rather than reliance on constitutional fallback provisions. She also flagged an “anomalous situation” arising from the simultaneous expiry of the Auditor General and Deputy Auditor General’s mandates, warning this runs counter to constitutional safeguards.
On social issues, the President urged compassion towards young people seeking gender-affirming medical care, saying they should not be condemned to “a life lived with such a burden”. The president said different administrations have taken the people’s right to decent housing seriously, particularly when it comes to young people and those experiencing changes in their civil status. “Malta must continue to help mitigate housing market pressures for those in danger of falling behind”, President Myriam Spiteri Debono has warned.
She argued that placing the individual at the centre of policy is essential to preventing social division and political extremism.
The President also warned of growing pressures from rapid population growth, citing strains on infrastructure and public services, and cautioned that insecurity in daily life can weaken trust in democratic institutions.
Her address concluded with a call for unity and responsible decision-making to ensure Malta’s development remains sustainable and socially balanced.
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(ITALPRESS).
