Curtain call

Malta’s new President caught the public’s attention, as Dr. George Abela now takes over this prestigious position, a brief reflection on one of Malta’s most outstanding personalities becomes appropriate, as we approach the final acts of the career of Dr. Edward Fenech Adami better known to us all as “Eddie”.

Fenech Adami’s career epitomises how charisma, vision and courage can contribute to make a leader stand out as a statesman. Commonly considered as having started out as the underdog when he contested the post for PN Leader, Fenech Adami was soon to become the undisputed leader of a nationwide movement which strived to bring about profound democratic changes in our country. In 1981, he had already succeeded in attracting the political consensus of a majority of the electorate; and yet it would take him another six years to be in a position to bring about the freedom aspired to by Maltese people from all walks of life. .

Those six years were hardly a walk in the park. Many people still recall the bold image of Fenech Adami leading crowds in streets of the most politically prohibitive corners of Malta. This was well before he achieved the formal, institutional image which accompanied him from 1987 through the rest of his career. That six-year period was marred by institutionalised violence and corruption which Fenech Adami retaliated with unstinting efforts to spread a message of peace and hope. He avoided the temptation of fighting fire with fire at all times. During this period, he also managed to widen the appeal of the Nationalist Party to new segments of society; people whose expectations previously had not been adequately represented, thus making the PN a party for all irrespective of one’s economic or social background.

I was just eight when Fenech Adami became my Prime Minister. I will never forget the middle-of-the-night celebrations at home. However, the transition from Leader of the Opposition to Prime Minister was probably the greatest test for Fenech Adami’s leadership qualities, since he had to tangibly respond to the aspirations and expectations of the people who elected him. Throughout the late eighties and up until the mid-nineties, he had to introduce reforms necessary to modernise Malta’s economy and infrastructure after years of socialist restrictions. Media pluralism was finally introduced in our country, paving the way for the birth of radio and TV stations – lest not we forget that these are essential ingredients of a proper democracy. Even then, Fenech Adami’s long term vision was already set on making Malta a Member State of the European Union – a vision that was well ahead of its time. Too ahead of its time for some, as Malta’s European ambitions were stalled as Fenech Adami was back in the Opposition from 1996 until 1998.

The question of Malta’s EU membership culminated in a referendum following years of heated debate which involved the whole nation. Fenech Adami’s statesmanship came again to the fore as he managed to rope in the majority of civil society behind the ‘Yes’ campaign, turning it into a movement which transcended party lines - a long and arduous task that required exceptional political stamina. If any further proof of his leadership qualities was needed, the courageous decision Fenech Adami took in immediately calling a general election after the positive referendum result, and which was due a few days before the signing of the Accession Treaty in Athens. His gamble paid off. The image of Fenech Adami signing the Treaty will remain etched in the memories of all of us; the image of a man in his prime who had succeeded in fulfilling a vision for which entire generations will be thankful in the years to come. The ‘European of the Year’ award by the influential European Voice publication in 2003 for his unfaltering efforts to bringing Malta into the European fold in the face of staunch opposition, placed him rightfully in the illustrious company his efforts deserved.

The decision to nominate Fenech Adami as Malta’s President was not spared from the usual controversy that dominates this country. However, at the end of this mandate we can all conclude that he served this role with an admirable dignity and his customary integrity, qualities which again gave the lie to the grumbling of some critics upon his nomination. It will be difficult for this country to give this great statesman of our times a curtain call worthy of the remarkable service he gave it.