Yesterday, President George Abela inspected his last Freedom Day Guard of Honour outside the palace. He will soon be stepping down to pass on the baton to Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, who will be sworn in this week.

It has been an eventful tenure. Malta’s role of President is a difficult one. Time and time again, we have seen political animals being elevated to Malta’s highest – yet very ceremonial post. Over the past  15 years, it has been hard for all presidents to rise above politics. Think about the list...

Guido de Marco... as political as they come. He was deputy prime minister (and held dozens of other posts), yet he managed to get around it by devoting his time to creating awareness about drug addiction and, well, to be frank, jaunting around the world and making new friends for Malta.

Then there was Eddie Fenech Adami. True to fashion, he brought his gravitas to the role and pushed slowly and quietly to enhance Malta’s reputation abroad.  The former Prime Minister worked tirelessly behind the scenes to do good for the country, in any way he could.

Then came George Abela. Dr Abela changed it all. He dedicated his time towards philanthropy and bringing the nation together to good deeds for others. He really did try to ‘do something’ with the Presidency, in the way that he knew how. But he too, was a political animal. He was nominated by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, despite having been very active in the Labour Party. He was an advisor to Alfred Sant when Labour was last in power, and he also challenged for the leadership with current Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

Yet, each and every one of them had moments when they slipped up and dropped a slight political clanger. It is very difficult, to say the least, for anyone to not do so in our political arena. But history is kind and everything is always eventually be forgotten.

And this week, it will be the turn of another President – Marie Louise Coleiro Preca. The woman has her fans and her detractors. But everyone is in agreement, when it is said that the woman works hard and really pushes for the underdog. Let us forget all the political manoeuvres and just concentrate on her and what she can contribute to the Presidency. Yet, she will, just as those who came before her, face this dilemma. She will, like the others, have to rise above it all and be the President of Malta. She will have to ignore political colour and become the unifying figure that has always been close, yet still somewhat elusive. She will be Malta’s 9th President. She might err along the way, but we are sure that she will be an asset to us as a nation and as a people.