Lawrence Gonzi

The Honourable Lawrence Gonzi MP
Prime Minister of Malta
Incumbent
Assumed office 23 March 2004
President	Guido de Marco Eddie Fenech Adami George Abela
Deputy	Tonio Borg
Preceded by	Eddie Fenech Adami
Personal details
Born	(1953-07-01) 1 July 1953 Pietà, Malta
Political party	Nationalist Party
Spouse(s)	Catherine née Callus
Children	David Mikela Paul
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Signature

Gonzi in Sliema, Malta, 12th December 2010.

Lawrence Gonzi (born July 1, 1953) is a Maltese politician who has been Prime Minister of Malta since 2004. He was Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta from 1988 to 1996, Minister of Social Policy from 1998 to 1999, and Deputy Prime Minister from 1999 to 2004. As Prime Minister, he has also been leader of the Nationalist Party (Maltese: Partit Nazzjonalista) since 2004.

Political life

Speaker and Member of Parliament

In 1987 Lawrence Gonzi contested the general elections unsuccessfully with the Nationalist Party. He was appointed Speaker of the House in 1988 and, in 1992, he was reappointed to the post with a unanimous vote. Gonzi contested the general elections again in 1996 and this time he was successful. As an opposition MP he served as Shadow Minister for social policy, secretary of the Nationalist parliamentary group, party whip and later general secretary of the party.

In 1998 he was returned and appointed Minister for Social Policy. In May 1999 he successfully contested the post of Deputy Leader of the party and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House. Following another Nationalist victory at the polls in 2003, Lawrence Gonzi was reconfirmed as Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House.

Prime Minister

Following the resignation of Eddie Fenech Adami as party leader, Gonzi won the leadership contest held in March 2004. He was appointed Prime Minister shortly after Fenech Adami stepped down to give way for his succession. From 2004 onwards, Gonzi took under his responsibility the finance portfolio as Minister of Finance. As Minister of Finance, he successfully managed the process to achieve the Maastricht criteria, propelling Malta into the Eurozone.

Following the general election held on 8 March 2008, Gonzi was reconfirmed as Prime Minister. He relinquished his post as Minister of Finance but assumed responsibility for the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA), in particular its reform. He was reelected Nationalist Party leader at the general council meeting on 4 May 2008.

Family

Lawrence Gonzi is the son of Luigi Gonzi and Ines Galea and grandnephew of Mons. Mikiel Gonzi, former Archbishop of Malta. His younger brother is Michael Gonzi, a Nationalist backbencher.

Gonzi is married to Catherine née Callus, and they have three children: David, Mikela, Paul.

See also

• Politics of Malta
• Prime Minister of Malta
• List of Prime Ministers of Malta

References

Political offices
Preceded by Jimmy Farrugia	Speaker of the House of Representatives 1988–1996	Succeeded by Myriam Spiteri Debono
Preceded by John Dalli	Minister of Finance 2004–2008	Succeeded by Tonio Fenech
Preceded by Guido de Marco	Deputy Prime Minister of Malta 1999–2004	Succeeded by Tonio Borg
Preceded by Eddie Fenech Adami	Prime Minister of Malta 2004–present	Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Austin Gatt	General Secretary of the Nationalist Party 1998–1999	Succeeded by Joe Saliba
Preceded by Guido de Marco	Deputy Leader of the Nationalist Party 1999–2004	Succeeded by Tonio Borg
Preceded by Eddie Fenech Adami	Leader of the Nationalist Party 2004–present	Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Olusegun Obasanjo	Chairperson of the Commonwealth of Nations 2005–2007	Succeeded by Yoweri Museveni