PN MP Adrian Delia has urged President George Vella to act according to his conscience and beliefs in an open letter.

The PN MP wrote an open letter to President George Vella on the abortion amendment debate currently ongoing in Malta.

A proposed exception to the country's strict anti-abortion law is being debated in Parliament,  that specifically allows for the termination of a pregnancy where there may be a grave threat to a woman's health. The PN is disagreeing with the proposal, arguing that it is too open.

Delia said, in his open letter, spoke about Vella's appointment as President. When it came to choosing the person to be nominated to this post, he said, a number of people were mentioned, "but I wanted that, in the spirit of the law that was being proposed, this person would enjoy the trust of two-thirds of Parliament."

"Back then, you had already expressed yourself in public about what you thought about the murder of children in the womb. About abortion. You were clear that you would never be disposed to signing a law that would permit it. You were convinced that abortion would not enter in Malta."

Delia said that he does not believe the President has changed his opinion.

He said that this was the reason that they agreed to his nomination, so that his nomination passed not only by a two-thirds majority, but unanimously in Parliament.

"Today, you occupy this post with the support of all of Parliament, and not just part of it," Delia wrote. "You represent the MPs of all the population, not part of it."

For a law to pass, Delia wrote, "it needs your signature. Every law needs to conform to the Constitution. A Constitution that protects life, and does not allow those who may terminate it."

He said that President Vella "swore allegiance to the whole population, and the whole Constitution. Not to the government of the day. You are the President. Higher than government. You are the Maltese State."

He appealed to Vella, "as a person, as a doctor who took an oath to save lives, as President of the Republic, as protector of the Constitution, remain strong, do not be afraid, look at nobody and nothing, and don't abdicate from your most noble responsibility."

He urged the President to act according to his conscience and beliefs. "Don't accept to be an accomplice by omission and make us proud. This is the moment of truth. This is the moment of choice, and not of escape."