Joseph Flores (Maltese politician)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Flores was a judge and politician from Malta
.
Flores was born in 1907 in the Maltese town of Hamrun
, close to the capital Valletta
. Following school he enrolled at the University of Malta
(the main university on the island) and began a course in the study of law
. He used this to develop his career in the legal field, finally being appointed as a judge.
Flores was drawn to the political sphere, but an attempt to gain election during the 1932 Maltese national elections ended in failure. However, there was more success during the 1950s when he was elected for three successive terms, serving as a member of the Malta Labour Party
in the period before independence from Great Britain
. This was a period of turmoil for the Maltese left - a split between the MLP and the Maltese Workers Party led to the latter forming a coalition with the Nationalists. From 1949 until 1955, Flores served as Deputy Leader of the MLP in the Assembly. It was not until 1955 that the MLP finally formed the government under the leadership of Dom Mintoff
. This legislature came to be dominated by the issue of integration with the United Kingdom
.
Such was Flores' position within the dominant Labour grouping that he was appointed the Speaker of the Maltese Legislative Assembly that same year. That however meant he had to formally resign as a member of the Legislative Assembly.
Flores was also influential in introducing the policy of criminal probation
in Malta. In 1955, he adopted some of the proposals that had been developed by Sir Alexander Paterson, HM Commissioner of Prisons for England and Malta. Paterson had suggested using the social system already in place - in Malta's case the use of the police force and priesthood.
Shortly before his retirement he took up a further post as vice-president of the Maltese constitutional court.
Flores was gay and it has been suggested that Flores had a relationship with the Maltese editor Herbert Ganado
and served as his best man. Chetcuti describes how, "On the eve of the wedding, Flores dressed up as a woman, and on another occasion, Flores and others put on a drag show sending up Queen Victoria."
After he retired he taught law again at the university in Malta. He died in 1974.
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...
.
Flores was born in 1907 in the Maltese town of Hamrun
Hamrun
Ħamrun is a town in the Inner Harbour Region of Malta, with a population of 8,800 people .The villagers are traditionally known as Tas-Sikkina or as Ta' Werwer...
, close to the capital Valletta
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
. Following school he enrolled 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...
(the main university on the island) and began a course in the study of law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. He used this to develop his career in the legal field, finally being appointed as a judge.
Flores was drawn to the political sphere, but an attempt to gain election during the 1932 Maltese national elections ended in failure. However, there was more success during the 1950s when he was elected for three successive terms, serving as a member of the Malta Labour Party
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 :...
in the period before independence from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. This was a period of turmoil for the Maltese left - a split between the MLP and the Maltese Workers Party led to the latter forming a coalition with the Nationalists. From 1949 until 1955, Flores served as Deputy Leader of the MLP in the Assembly. It was not until 1955 that the MLP finally formed the government under the leadership of Dom Mintoff
Dom Mintoff
Dom Mintoff is a Maltese politician, journalist and architect, who served as leader of the Labour Party from 1949 to 1984, Prime Minister of Malta from 1955 to 1958 and again, post-Independence, from 1971 to...
. This legislature came to be dominated by the issue of integration with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Flores was also influential in introducing the policy of criminal probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
in Malta. In 1955, he adopted some of the proposals that had been developed by Sir Alexander Paterson, HM Commissioner of Prisons for England and Malta. Paterson had suggested using the social system already in place - in Malta's case the use of the police force and priesthood.
Shortly before his retirement he took up a further post as vice-president of the Maltese constitutional court.
Flores was gay and it has been suggested that Flores had a relationship with the Maltese editor Herbert Ganado
Herbert Ganado
Herbert Ganado was a Maltese lawyer, president of Catholic Action, editor, politician and author.Born in Floriana on 7 April 1906 on the island of Malta, Ganado studied at the Lyceum and University of Malta and graduated as a lawyer in 1931. He was active at university and shortly after became...
and served as his best man. Chetcuti describes how, "On the eve of the wedding, Flores dressed up as a woman, and on another occasion, Flores and others put on a drag show sending up Queen Victoria."
After he retired he taught law again at the university in Malta. He died in 1974.