Whether the republic of Malta recognises it or not is neither here nor there. If the Prince of Wales, a British subject, came to Malta he cannot be addressed as “Mr Wales” just because we are a republic.

Likewise, this chap is a British subject and has a title registered with a foreign country’s Ministry of Justice, with which Malta has full and complete diplomatic relations.

In addition, please note that several Maltese title holders have had their titles of nobility listed when awarded the Maltese Order of Merit.

Several letters of credence have also been given to ambassadors or consuls-general showing their titles of nobility.

The Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika Act did not abolish titles of nobility, precluding their use, but simply removed their recognition, stripping them of any legal or formal precedence.

The same applies to clerical titles and the church hierarchy. The Archbishop would not have his title and designation on either his passport or identity card, but it doesn’t make him less of an Archbishop.

The office of the President of the Republic has on numerous occasions corresponded with titled Maltese individuals using their title of nobility.

It is acceptable to titled individuals to use their titles of nobility on a social basis, but it has no legal standing generally.

It does have legal standing (vide relevant court cases) where an inheritance of land, estate or property is tied to an old title of nobility, and the court in such matters will rule on who the heir should be.

Why do you keep saying “just hours before the election”? The constitution, and election law, were not written just before the election. We’ve all known, since the mid-1980s (with last major change to the election system) that a vote to any no-hope party is a vote less for the party that’s likely to form the government.

AD supporters knew this. And if they had thought of the Common Good and the higher imperative of EU membership, they would have had no doubt about who to vote for.

AD’s hopes for what? A couple of seats in parliament alongside the PN Opposition, a Labour government and no EU membership? Come on. Be sensible. Needs must when the devil drives, and EU membership was a whole lot more important than the ego of a man who, for all his principles, ended up working for John Dalli in Brussels. I don’t think anybody wanted to see the chances of EU membership fried just to do Harry Vassallo a favour – not even you, if you think about it sensibly.

Which begs the question, if the reform was based on NGO recommendations, why was Astrid Vella in favour of dismantling MEPA, thus the reform itself?

http://www.lastampa.it/rf/image_lowres/Pub/p3/2015/03/26/Spettacoli/Foto/RitagliWeb/8577769-k5OE-U106018475030676nF-700×394@LaStampa.it.jpg

Well noted, Daphne. Going through “Joe Grech’s” comments I now see that 90% of them were defending Astrid Vella and/or attacking you.

And then she had the gall to say this on The Malta Independent: “Nemusa, she’s (i.e. Astrid Vella) not a coward hiding behind sneaky pen names either.”

What a joke those people are.

Hello, Astrid.