President’s Night Bike Ride – what a joke

The last two heads of state – both Laburisti with no sense of what is proper, natch – have turned the role of president into that of CEO of a fund-raising organisation.

The Community Chest Fund was set up before Malta became a republic, and was conceived as something to keep the Governor’s WIFE busy and stop her going stir crazy with boredom. It was in line with the English tradition of wives of important men ‘doing their bit’ by getting involved with charity work.

But first George Abela (booooo!) and now Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (she’s right behind you!) have wrested the Community Chest Fund from their spouses and made it the sole raison d’être of their five-year stint at the Palace.

Last year, President Coleiro was photographed at her bike ride with members of Rebels MC, the biker organisation outlawed in Australia and under surveillance by the police in other parts of the world. In one of the photographs, she stood with Alex Vella, who has been denied re-entry to Australia because he is suspected of running a crime ring through Rebels MC, which he heads.

Given that he is still ‘trapped’ in Malta, will he be in the head of state’s night bike ride convoy again this year? Given the way things are going, she’ll probably be riding pillion with him.

Oh, and the official finish for the night bike ride is set to be at Charles Polidano’s illegal Montekristo Estate. Way to go, Mrs Preca.