Eddie Fenech Adami
Encyclopedia
Edward “Eddie” Fenech Adami (born 7 February 1934) is a Maltese
politician who was Prime Minister of Malta
from 1987 until 1996 and again from 1998 until 2004. Subsequently he was the seventh President of Malta from 2004 to 2009.
, Fenech Adami was educated at St Aloysius' College in Birkirkara and at the University of Malta
, where he first studied economics and then classics
and later law.
He was called to the bar
in 1959.
becoming its Secretary General and editor of its paper Il-Poplu (Maltese: The People). He became an MP in 1969 through a casual election
.
in 1978. In 1979 his family and family home were targetted by a mob in a series of violent incidents which came to be known as "Black Monday
".
He served as Leader of the Opposition until his party was voted in office in 1987.
Between 1987 and 1996, Fenech Adami ushered a major period of change for Malta. The country's physical infrastructure was completely overhauled as were the legal and business structures. Trade was liberalized, whilst telecommunications, banking and financial services were deregulated or privatised. Malta also applied to join the European Economic Community on 16 July 1990. Dr Fenech Adami was reconfirmed Prime Minister in the February 1992 elections.
Between 1996 and 1998 Fenech Adami served as Leader of the Opposition until his Party was returned to office in September 1998. Malta's European Union
application, which was put on hold by the previous Labour
government, was reactivated and negotiations concluded by December 2002. This was confirmed by a referendum in March 2003 and general election held in April 2003 which confirmed the Partit Nazzjonalista
in government and Fenech Adami as Prime Minister. Fenech Adami resigned from Prime Minister on 23 March 2004, thus becoming the longest serving Prime Minister since Independence in 1964.
On 16 April 2003, Dr. Fenech Adami signed Malta's Accession Treaty with the European Union. In December 2003, Dr. Fenech Adami received the European of the Year 2003 Award from the influential Brussels-based newspaper European Voice
in recognition of his unfaltering efforts to bring Malta into the European Union.
.
(who passed away in 2011) and they had five children: John, Beppe, Michael, Maria and Luigi.
.
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
politician who was Prime Minister of Malta
Prime Minister of Malta
The Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
from 1987 until 1996 and again from 1998 until 2004. Subsequently he was the seventh President of Malta from 2004 to 2009.
Education and professional career
Born in BirkirkaraBirkirkara
Birkirkara or B'Kara is a city of 25,858 inhabitants in central Malta. It is the most populated town on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College...
, Fenech Adami was educated at St Aloysius' College in Birkirkara and at the University of Malta
University of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
, where he first studied economics and then classics
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and later law.
He was called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1959.
Secretary General and MP
Fenech Adami joined the Nationalist PartyNationalist Party (Malta)
The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
becoming its Secretary General and editor of its paper Il-Poplu (Maltese: The People). He became an MP in 1969 through a casual election
Single transferable vote
The single transferable vote is a voting system designed to achieve proportional representation through preferential voting. Under STV, an elector's vote is initially allocated to his or her most preferred candidate, and then, after candidates have been either elected or eliminated, any surplus or...
.
Leader of the Nationalist Party
Fenech Adami was elected leader designate in 1977 and took the lead of the Party from Giorgio Borg OlivierGiorgio Borg Olivier
Giorgio Borg Olivier was twice Prime Minister of Malta as the Leader of the Nationalist Party. He was also Leader of the Opposition between 1955 and 1958 and again between 1971 and 1977. He resigned from Leader of the Nationalist Party in 1977 and was succeeded by Eddie Fenech Adami...
in 1978. In 1979 his family and family home were targetted by a mob in a series of violent incidents which came to be known as "Black Monday
Black Monday (Malta)
Black Monday in Malta refers to 15 October 1979 when the Progress Press and the home of Eddie Fenech Adami, then Leader of the Opposition, were ransacked following a rally by Labour Party.-Background:...
".
He served as Leader of the Opposition until his party was voted in office in 1987.
Between 1987 and 1996, Fenech Adami ushered a major period of change for Malta. The country's physical infrastructure was completely overhauled as were the legal and business structures. Trade was liberalized, whilst telecommunications, banking and financial services were deregulated or privatised. Malta also applied to join the European Economic Community on 16 July 1990. Dr Fenech Adami was reconfirmed Prime Minister in the February 1992 elections.
Between 1996 and 1998 Fenech Adami served as Leader of the Opposition until his Party was returned to office in September 1998. Malta's European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
application, which was put on hold by the previous Labour
Malta Labour Party
The Labour Party is, along with the Nationalist Party, one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
government, was reactivated and negotiations concluded by December 2002. This was confirmed by a referendum in March 2003 and general election held in April 2003 which confirmed the Partit Nazzjonalista
Nationalist Party (Malta)
The Nationalist Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Fortunato Mizzi in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the British colonial authorities and measures to Anglicise the educational and the...
in government and Fenech Adami as Prime Minister. Fenech Adami resigned from Prime Minister on 23 March 2004, thus becoming the longest serving Prime Minister since Independence in 1964.
On 16 April 2003, Dr. Fenech Adami signed Malta's Accession Treaty with the European Union. In December 2003, Dr. Fenech Adami received the European of the Year 2003 Award from the influential Brussels-based newspaper European Voice
European Voice
European Voice is an English language newspaper owned by The Economist Group. The newspaper gives an account of the activities of the key European Union institutions – the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of Ministers...
in recognition of his unfaltering efforts to bring Malta into the European Union.
President of Malta
Following his resignation as Prime Minister, Adami became President of Malta on 4 April 2004. He served a five-year term, leaving office on 4 April 2009, when he was succeeded by George AbelaGeorge Abela
George Abela is a Maltese politician who has been President of Malta since April 2009.-Early life:Abela was born in Qormi, Malta, to George and Ludgarda née Debono. He attended the local primary school in Qormi, and the Lyceum in Hamrun. In 1965 he enrolled in the University of Malta, where he...
.
Personal life
He was married to Mary Fenech AdamiMary Fenech Adami
Mary Fenech Adami was the wife of former President of Malta, Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, and was therefore the former First Lady of the Republic of Malta. She was married from 27 June 1965 to 8 July 2011,when she died.- References :**...
(who passed away in 2011) and they had five children: John, Beppe, Michael, Maria and Luigi.
Other
Eddie Fenech Adami is an Honorary Member of the International Raoul Wallenberg FoundationInternational Raoul Wallenberg Foundation
The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation is a non-governmental organization which researches Holocaust rescuers and advocates for their recognition. The organization developed educational programs for school to promote peace and civil service...
.
Honours and awards
- National Order of Merit (Malta – 1990)
- Knight Grand Cross with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicOrder of Merit of the Italian RepublicThe Order of Merit of the Italian Republic was founded as the senior order of knighthood by the second President of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi in 1951...
– 11 May 2005 - Knight Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King TomislavGrand Order of King TomislavThe Grand Order of King Tomislav , or more fully the Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Great Morning Star , is the highest state order of the Republic of Croatia...
– "For outstanding contribution to the promotion of friendship and development co-operation between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Malta." (2 November 2006) - Order of the White Eagle (2009)