President of Malta George Abela said on Friday morning that the time has come to choose a "strong" successor for him, a person who will "unite all the political forces" and be accepted as a unifying figure. Abela, whose term ends in next April, highlighted the need for substantial reform to strengthen the autonomous role of the president in his Republic Day speech. He said the focus should be on revising the procedure undertaken to select a president, and time had come for a stronger role for the president, who should not be removed by a simple majority of MPs, and that new powers should be accorded where he or she can act without the prime minister's advice as in the case of approving laws. "The possibility should be explored whether the president should refer to parliament, only once, any parliamentary act on which he may have some reservations for the parliament's renewed consideration." The president also listed challenges the Maltese state was facing, namely pensions and the demographic imbalance, job concerns and a constantly increasing number of graduates and qualified people, "more ambitious and demanding lifestyles, material expectations, family expenses, property prices, and the factors (that) have led to a decrease of the birth rate to worrying levels." He added that a wealthier Malta had also rendered it a victim of its own success. Malta celebrates its 39th anniversary since it became a republic. On Dec. 13, 1974, the Maltese constitution was substantially revised, which changed Malta from being a Commonwealth realm into a republic within the Commonwealth. The British monarch was no longer head of state and Sir Anthony Mamo became the first president of Malta.