The Office of the President released a statement today, reiterating that the President played absolutely no part in the organisation of Paqpaqli ghall-Istrina.
Recently President Emeritus George Abela told a court how, during his time in office, he felt the ultimate responsibility for events such as Paqpaqli Ghall-Istrina should be borne by him.
Referring to recent media reports concerning the legal proceedings arising from the high-speed car accident that took place at the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina event on 4 October, 2015, the Office of the President stressed that the President (Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca), of her own volition, renounced her Constitutional immunity and chose to take the witness stand to present the court with the facts as she knew them. "However, the Office of the President now feels compelled to rectify a series of inaccuracies surrounding its involvement in this event that bear absolutely no resemblance to the facts."
"It is correct to state that the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina event, conceived with the noble intention of raising funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, came into existence before Her Excellency commenced her term in 2014 as President of Malta."
"But it should be noted that, other than encouraging the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina team to continue to raise funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation and lending her patronage to the event (as she does with other third-party fundraising events), Her Excellency played absolutely no part in the organisation of it."
"The President did, on one occasion, in July 2015 attend part of a meeting, with the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina team. However, Her Excellency took no substantive decisions, in this regard. Nor did Her Excellency assume any organisational role in Paqpaqli għall-Istrina. Indeed, it would have been irresponsible for the Head of State, who had no knowledge, and no technical expertise in automotive issues, to have done so."
"The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation's involvement in Paqpaqli għall-Istrina was strictly limited to providing administrative support, endorsement, promotion, and covering expenses related to the event. Any statement to the contrary is at best misleading and at worst a distortion of the truth. It is also pertinent to point out that in April 2015 - six months before the Paqpaqli għall-Istrina incident - a very deliberate step was taken to create a distinction between the Office of the President and the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation. This radical change in the Malta Community Chest Fund, was reflected in its constitution, and this is because, the Malta Community Chest Fund was formally set up as a Foundation regulated by law. Therefore, this change effectively reduced the dependence of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation on the Head of State, significantly altering the nature of the link that previously existed between the two."
The statement noted that the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation retained its invaluable role as a fundraiser for, and appreciative beneficiary of, several initiatives like Paqpaqli għall-Istrina. "The Office of the President affirms that ever since this horrific incident took place, its sole objective has been to express solidarity with the victims - and to cooperate with the authorities to ensure the facts are established. While seeking to clarify any misconceptions that have arisen, the Office of the President would also like to appeal to everyone to refrain from unhelpful and inaccurate conjecture, which serves no purpose other than to hinder the vital quest for the truth, so that justice can be truly served."