Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici
Encyclopedia
Carmelo Bonnici (born 17 July 1933) was the Prime Minister of Malta
from 1984 to 1987. He is a member of the Labour Party. He studied law at the University of Malta
and is known to be an expert in industrial relations law.
. His brother Antoine was a Nationalist MP and Parliamentary Secretary while his cousin Ugo
was a Nationalist MP, Minister and President of the Republic. In the 1960s, at the height of the dispute between the Maltese Church and the Labour Party, Mifsud Bonnici was an official of a number of lay organisations connected to the Church and supported the "diocesan junta" of Church organisations opposing Dom Mintoff
and his Party.
In fact, Mifsud Bonnici was later to claim that he was "a Nationalist by birth, but a Labourite through free choice and co
Mifsud Bonnici's tenure as Prime Minister was seen as a continuation of the Mintoff years (he even retained the same Cabinet). Political violence persisted, hightened and made more intense by the fact that the elections of 1987 were approaching. However, Mifsud Bonnici ha started to attempt to keep under control violent elements. Relations with the church deteriorated further on two fronts: the enactment of a Bill to seize church property without compensation and attempts by the government to control and take over church schools. Things climaxed in 1984 when a demonstration by some of the workers of the Malta Drydocks at which Mifsud Bonnici was present ransacked the offices of the Maltese Curia after the demonstration was over. Mifsud Bonnici commented by calling the workers "the aristocracy of the working class", a comment that was misunderstood (see labour aristocracy).
Mifsud Bonnici narrowly lost the 1987 elections serving as Leader of the Opposition until 1992 when, following a second defeat, he resigned. He held his seat until the following election in 1996. He has not contested any general elections since.
campaign for the entry of the country into the European Union
, Mifsud Bonnici formed the Campaign for National Independence (CNI) and later joined the Front Maltin Inqumu (Maltese Arise Front) to oppose Malta's membership in the EU. He opposed the ratification of the European Constitution, but his motion at the Labour Party's General Conference in 2005 was rejected by the delegates. He has since maintained a low profile within the party although he has retained a role with CNI.
It is interesting to note that at a meeting of the FMI, at the crossroads of Zerafa Str with Isoard Str, Marsa, Bonnici stated that if Malta were to join the EU, it would have to change its rent laws. It remains a mystery therefore why Dr Mifsud Bonnici had remained silent before the treat was passed.
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 1984 to 1987. He is a member of the Labour Party. He studied law 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...
and is known to be an expert in industrial relations law.
Early politics
Mifsud Bonnici was from a family that staunchly supported the Partit NazzjonalistaNationalist 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...
. His brother Antoine was a Nationalist MP and Parliamentary Secretary while his cousin Ugo
Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici was the fifth President of Malta from 1994 to 1999.-Early life, education, and family:He was born in Cospicua as the son of Professor Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici LL.D and Maria Ross. He was educated at the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta. He graduated as a Bachelor of...
was a Nationalist MP, Minister and President of the Republic. In the 1960s, at the height of the dispute between the Maltese Church and the Labour Party, Mifsud Bonnici was an official of a number of lay organisations connected to the Church and supported the "diocesan junta" of Church organisations opposing 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...
and his Party.
In fact, Mifsud Bonnici was later to claim that he was "a Nationalist by birth, but a Labourite through free choice and co
Labour Party
In 1980, he was appointed as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and in 1982 appointed Designate Leader and co-opted into Parliament and assigned the Ministry of Employment and Social Services. Later, he was assigned the Ministry of Education, a responsibility he held until 1986. In 1984, he was sworn in as Prime Minister, thus becoming the first Maltese Prime Minister since independence to be sworn in without actually standing for a general election.Mifsud Bonnici's tenure as Prime Minister was seen as a continuation of the Mintoff years (he even retained the same Cabinet). Political violence persisted, hightened and made more intense by the fact that the elections of 1987 were approaching. However, Mifsud Bonnici ha started to attempt to keep under control violent elements. Relations with the church deteriorated further on two fronts: the enactment of a Bill to seize church property without compensation and attempts by the government to control and take over church schools. Things climaxed in 1984 when a demonstration by some of the workers of the Malta Drydocks at which Mifsud Bonnici was present ransacked the offices of the Maltese Curia after the demonstration was over. Mifsud Bonnici commented by calling the workers "the aristocracy of the working class", a comment that was misunderstood (see labour aristocracy).
Mifsud Bonnici narrowly lost the 1987 elections serving as Leader of the Opposition until 1992 when, following a second defeat, he resigned. He held his seat until the following election in 1996. He has not contested any general elections since.
Later years
In 2003, during the referendumReferendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
campaign for the entry of the country into the 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...
, Mifsud Bonnici formed the Campaign for National Independence (CNI) and later joined the Front Maltin Inqumu (Maltese Arise Front) to oppose Malta's membership in the EU. He opposed the ratification of the European Constitution, but his motion at the Labour Party's General Conference in 2005 was rejected by the delegates. He has since maintained a low profile within the party although he has retained a role with CNI.
It is interesting to note that at a meeting of the FMI, at the crossroads of Zerafa Str with Isoard Str, Marsa, Bonnici stated that if Malta were to join the EU, it would have to change its rent laws. It remains a mystery therefore why Dr Mifsud Bonnici had remained silent before the treat was passed.