Campaign congratulates Malta's new President, George Vella

The Campaign for a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, in short UNPA, congratulated Malta's new President, George Vella, on assuming office on 4th April this year. A medical doctor by profession, Dr. Vella served twice as foreign minister, from 1996 to 1998 and from 2013 to 2017. He is a member of the Maltese Labour Party and was a member of parliament for almost three decades. As the sole nominee he was elected by the Maltese parliament as 10th President, succeeding Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

In November last year, Dr. Vella joined the new Parliamentary Group for a UNPA in his capacity as a former member of parliament. Recently, he endorsed a statement published in The Guardian warning that “the United Nations, the multilateral order and democracy are under attack.” The document urged the world's governments to take steps towards the creation of a UNPA in order to address the UN’s democratic deficit.

Speaking as Maltese foreign minister at a summit of the Commonwealth in 2013 in Sri Lanka, Dr. Vella called on Commonwealth foreign ministers to endorse the campaign for a UNPA. He stated that the 54-member block "could influence the 194-member UN and push through the establishment of an assembly which would strengthen representation and parliamentary diplomacy."

“We wholeheartedly congratulate Dr. Vella on his election,” said Andreas Bummel, the Secretary-General of the Campaign for a UNPA which is endorsed by over 1,500 current and former members of parliament from across the world. 

Top image: Department of Information of Malta by Clifton Fenech