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| Photo from the same article |
Marie Louise
Coleiro Preca this evening became Malta’s ninth President, promising to stay
close to the people despite taking on her new role. In her first formal speech
soon after being sworn in, Ms Coleiro Preca insisted that will still be the
person she always was – “a person with whom you can speak with and confide in.
Your difficulties are my challenges. Your successes are my joys.”
This is not a
celebration of one person but a celebration of all the people in Malta and
Gozo, Ms Coleiro Preca said. “Today I present myself to you most humbly and
with a high sense of duty, commitment and determination, so that together we
can build upon the good work of our forefathers. Today I feel the smallest
among you.”
Ms Coleiro Preca
said that one of the priorities of her Presidency will be strengthening unity.
“Just as we have succeeded on various occasions to show this sentiment, the
same can be achieved on a daily basis. We should work to push to the forefront
the virtue and value of brotherly love among the people of Malta and Gozo in
order to safeguard respect, tolerance and dignity for all.”
She also spoke
on the need to understand the importance of diversity and multiculturalism. On
the other hand, we should not ignore our national identity. Malta should
strengthen its ties with expatriates as well as their descendants. Ms Coleiro
Preca also vowed to strengthen the voluntary sector, just as her predecessors
did.
