Eddie Fenech Adami

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Prime Minister of Malta
Edward Fenech Adami
Image:Edward Fenech Adami.jpg <small/>
7th President of the Republic of Malta
Incumbent
Assumed office 4 April 2004
Preceded by	Guido de Marco
In office 1987 – 1992 1992 - 1996 1998 - 2002 2003
Preceded by	Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici Alfred Sant
Succeeded by	Alfred Sant Lawrence Gonzi

Born	7 February 1934 Birkirkara, Malta
Spouse	Mary Fenech Adami

Edward Fenech Adami (born February 7, 1934, Birkirkara) was the Prime Minister of Malta from 1987 until 1996 and from 1998 until 2004. He took office as the seventh President of the Republic of Malta on April 4, 2004, succeeding Guido de Marco. <ref name="official"> Official Website of the President of Malta. Government of Malta (2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-20.</ref> He is considered the Father of European Malta. <ref name="Father">Malta and the EU: Dr Eddie Fenech Adami - the Father of European Malta signs the accession treaty. Malta Network of Resources (2003). Retrieved on 2006-08-20.</ref>

1 Early life
2 Politics
3 In Government
4 Resignation
5 Presidential term
6 See also
7 References

[edit] Early life

He was educated at St Aloysius' College, B'kara and the University of Malta, where he first studied economics and the classics and later law. He was called to the bar in 1959.

He is married to Mary nee Sciberras and they have five children: John, Beppe, Michael, Maria and Luigi.<ref name="official"/>

[edit] Politics

Dr. Fenech Adami joined the Nationalist Party in the early 1960s, establishing a reputation as a reserved but determined and capable constituency official. He entered parliament in 1969 and, after having served in a number of senior party posts within the same party, including that of Party General Secretary, he was elected party leader, succeeding Giorgio Borg Olivier, following his forced retirement. <ref name="official"/>

In 1981, although the Nationalist Party obtained an absolute majority of votes, it did not succeed to win a majority of seats in Parliament, and therefore remained in Opposition. Constitutional changes were then made to guarantee that the party winning an absolute majority of votes would have a parliamentary majority as happened in 1987 when Nationalist Party was returned to office with Fenech Adami at the helm.<ref name="Maltatoday"> "Man of the Year, should he stay or should he go", Malta Today, 2004-01-04. Retrieved on 2006-08-20.</ref>

[edit] In Government

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. <ref name="official"/>

Between 1996 and 1998 Fenech Adami served as Leader of the Opposition until his Party was returned to Government in September 1998. Malta's EU application, which was put on hold by the previous Labour government, was reactivated and negotiations concluded by December 2002. This was confirmed be 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. <ref name="official"/>

A few days later, on 16 April, 2003, Dr. Fenech Adami signed Malta's Accession Treaty with the European Union, together with nine other Heads of Government of countries set to become EU members on 1 May 2004. 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.<ref name="EU voice">Foreword to EU Studies Guide 2004 Eddie Fenech Adami, Maltese Prime Minister - EU Studies Guide. European Voice (2004). Retrieved on 2006-08-20.</ref>

[edit] Resignation

On 7 February 2004, upon reaching his 70th birthday, Dr. Fenech Adami tendered his resignation as Nationalist Party Leader. On 23 March 2004, Dr. Edward Fenech-Adami resigned his premiership as well as his parliamentary seat.

[edit] Presidential term

He took office as the seventh President of the Republic of Malta on April 4, 2004, succeeding Guido de Marco. <ref name="official"/>

[edit] See also

Black Monday (Malta)

[edit] References

Preceded by: Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici	Prime Minister of Malta 1987–1996	Succeeded by: Alfred Sant
Preceded by: Alfred Sant	Prime Minister of Malta 1998–2004	Succeeded by: Lawrence Gonzi
Preceded by: Guido de Marco	President of the Republic of Malta 2004–	Succeeded by: Current incumbent
Preceded by: Giorgio Borg Olivier	Leader of the Nationalist Party 1978–2004	Succeeded by: Lawrence Gonzi