George Vella
George William Vella, KUOM KCMG (born 24 April 1942) is a Maltese politician and the current President of Malta.[1] He was Malta's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 1998, under Prime Minister Alfred Sant,[2][3] and under Prime Minister Joseph Muscat from 2013 to 2017. He was inaugurated as the 10th President of Malta on 4 April 2019.[1]
George Vella | |
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President of Malta | |
Assumed office 4 April 2019 | |
Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat Robert Abela |
Preceded by | Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca |
Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
In office 13 March 2013 – 9 June 2017 | |
Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
Preceded by | Francis Zammit Dimech |
Succeeded by | Carmelo Abela |
In office 28 October 1996 – 6 September 1998 | |
Prime Minister | Alfred Sant |
Preceded by | Guido de Marco |
Succeeded by | Guido de Marco |
Deputy Prime Minister of Malta | |
In office 28 October 1996 – 6 September 1998 | |
Prime Minister | Alfred Sant |
Preceded by | Guido de Marco |
Succeeded by | Guido de Marco |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party | |
In office 26 March 1992 – 23 May 2003 | |
Leader | Alfred Sant |
Preceded by | Joseph Brincat |
Succeeded by | Charles Mangion |
Personal details | |
Born | Żejtun, Crown Colony of Malta | 24 April 1942
Political party | Labour Party |
Spouse(s) | Miriam Grima |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of Malta |
Early life and family
Vella was born in Żejtun in 1942. He is married to Miriam (née Grima). He has two daughters and a son, along with seven grandchildren.[2][3]
Vella qualified as a medical doctor in 1964, obtained a Certificate in Aviation Medicine from Farnborough (UK), and was a specialist in family medicine.[4]
Career
Labour Party
Vella joined the Labour Party (PL) and started his parliamentary career in 1976. He was then elected member of parliament in January 1978, and during the 1981, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 general elections. As a Member of Parliament, he represents the 3rd and 5th Districts.[2][3]
Serving abroad
In 1978, Vella was a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and rapporteur on maritime pollution from maritime sources at the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE). From January to May 1987, he served as Malta's permanent representative at the Council of Europe.[2]
Deputy leader
In 1992, Vella was elected as the Labour Party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs and spokesperson on foreign affairs. He served as vice chairman on the Joint EU/Malta Parliamentary Committee.[2][3]
From 1995 to 1996, Vella was a member of the House Business Committee and the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee.[2]
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs
He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Environment in October 1996[3] and again in March 2013, serving to June 2017.[2]
Vella has voiced his support for the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which campaigns for democratic reformation of the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system.[5]
President of Malta
Vella was nominated for the position of the President of Malta by the governing Labour Party at the time. His nomination was supported by both the government and opposition Nationalist Party.[6] The Democratic Party announced their support for Vella's nomination, but would boycott the vote to protest in favour of a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the president.[7] The vote in parliament took place on 2 April 2019, with the Members of Parliament voting to approve Vella's appointment as the only nominee.[8]
The appointment was followed by Vella's formal swearing-in as president on 4 April 2019.[9]
Honours
National honours
- Companion of the National Order of Merit (KOM)
- Grand Master and Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit, Malta, by right as a President of Malta
- Grand Master of the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika
Foreign honours
- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)(UK)
- Grand Cross pro merito melitensi of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (SNOM)
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Agatha (San Marino)
- Grand Commander Order of Honour (Hellenic Republic)
References
- Scicluna, Luke (2 April 2019). "George Vella approved as Malta's next President". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2015-03-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maltese Consulate".
- "George Vella Biography". www.gov.mt.
- "Supporters". Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- Amaira, Ruth (7 March 2019). "PN Parliamentary Group to vote in favor of nomination of George Vella for President". TVM News. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- "PD to boycott parliamentary debate on presidential nomination". Times of Malta. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- "MPs to vote on George Vella for president on April 2". Times of Malta. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- Scicluna, Christopher (4 April 2019). "President Vella delivers unifying address after swearing-in". Times of Malta. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George William Vella. |
Party political offices | ||
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Preceded by Joseph Brincat |
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party 1992–2003 |
Succeeded by Charles Mangion |
Political offices | ||
Preceded by Guido de Marco |
Deputy Prime Minister of Malta 1996–1998 |
Succeeded by Guido de Marco |
Preceded by Guido de Marco |
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1996–1998 |
Succeeded by Guido de Marco |
Preceded by ??? |
Minister for the Environment 1996–1998 |
Succeeded by Francis Zammit Dimech |
Preceded by Francis Zammit Dimech |
Minister of Foreign Affairs 2013–2017 |
Succeeded by Carmelo Abela |
Preceded by Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca |
President of Malta 2019–present |
Incumbent |