Updated: Give civil society more space, President tells politicians

President George Abela this morning urged political parties to include a chapter on civil society in their election manifestos. He was speaking in the presence of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi during the customary exchange of New Year's greetings with the country's highest authorities. In a passionate tone Dr Abela said the country had to create "the space for civil society to work in", hinting that it should also be involved in constitutional reform. "Civil society was mobilised during the divorce campaign, the l-Istrina fund raiser and by the political parties. Civil society is a force to be reckoned with," Dr Abela said. In his meeting with Opposition leader Joseph Muscat, the President noted that it was unacceptable for an effluent society to have almost 70,000 people living at risk of poverty. He insisted on targeted programmes that not only helped these people live comfortably but enabled them to move up the social ladder. When meeting Speaker Michael Frendo and MPs, the president explained the reasoning behind his protracted deliberation on the Prime Minister's request to dissolve Parliament earlier this month. "In my limited function I felt I had to consult with the...