George Vella
George Vella | |
---|---|
President of Malta | |
Assumed office 4 April 2019 | |
Prime Minister | |
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 | |
Succeeded by | Charles Mangion |
Personal details | |
Born | Żejtun, Crown Colony of Malta | 24 April 1942
Political party | Labour |
Spouse(s) | Miriam Grima (m.1985) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of Malta |
George William Vella KOM KCMG (born 24 April 1942) is a Maltese politician serving as the president of Malta since 2019.[1] A member of the Labour Party, Vella previously served as the minister for foreign affairs from 1996 to 1998 and again from 2013 to 2017 under two governments.[2][3]
Early life and family[]
Vella was born in Żejtun on 24 April 1942, where he finished his primary education.[4] Vella graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in the Royal University of Malta in 1964 and became a qualified medical doctor.[4][5] He obtained a certificate in Aviation Medicine from Farnborough, UK and he has been a specialist in family medicine since 2003.[5] Between 1964 and 1966, Vella worked as a houseman in St. Luke's Hospital and soon after he applied and worked between 1966 and 1973 as a medical officer for Malta's drydocks.[4] After that, he served as the medical officer to Air Malta and as a consultant in Aviation Medicine.[4]
He is married to Miriam[6] and they together have two daughters and a son, along with seven grandchildren.[2][3][6]
Career[]
Labour Party[]
Vella joined the Labour Party and started his parliamentary career in 1976.[4] He was then elected member of parliament in January 1978, and during the 1981, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 general elections.[4] As a member of Parliament, he represents the 3rd and 5th Districts.[2][3]
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).[4] From January to May 1987, he served as Malta's permanent representative at the Council of Europe.[2]
In 1992, Vella was elected as the Labour Party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs and spokesperson on foreign affairs and served that role until 2003.[4] 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 organization which campaigns for democratic reformation of the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system.[7]
President of Malta[]
In early 2019, Vella was speculated to become the next president of Malta.[8] Vella was nominated for the position of the president of Malta by the governing Labour Party at the time including the opposition Nationalist Party.[9][10] The Democratic Party announced their support for Vella's nomination, but would boycott the vote to protest in favor of a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the president.[11] 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.[12] The appointment was followed by Vella's formal swearing-in as president on 4 April 2019, a date on which every previous Maltese President since 1989 was inaugurated.[13][14]
Honours[]
National honours[]
- Companion of the National Order of Merit (KOM)[4]
- Grand Master and Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit, Malta, by right as a President of Malta[citation needed]
- Grand Master of the [[Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika|Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika[citation needed]]]
Foreign honours[]
- Grand Commander Order of Honour (Greece)[4]
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Agatha (San Marino)[4]
- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (United Kingdom)[4]
- Grand Cross pro merito melitensi of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (Sovereign Military Order of Malta)[4]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Scicluna, Luke (2 April 2019). "George Vella approved as Malta's next President". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-06. Retrieved 2015-03-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maltese Consulate".
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Dr.GEORGE W.VELLA MD.,Cert. GAM (UK), KOM., KCMG" (PDF). newsbook.com.mt.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "George Vella Biography". www.gov.mt.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Who is Dr George Vella? - TVM News". TVM English. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ "Supporters". Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Retrieved 2017-09-21.
- ^ "Who is George Vella? This Maltese politician may be Malta's next President". www.guidememalta.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Maltese parliament approves George Vella as president - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Watch - Updated: George Vella sworn in as Malta's 10th President of the Republic - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
External links[]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to George William Vella. |
- George William Vella's official page in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malta)
- 1942 births
- Presidents of Malta
- Deputy Prime Ministers of Malta
- Government ministers of Malta
- Labour Party (Malta) politicians
- Living people
- People from Żejtun
- Maltese general practitioners
- Members of the House of Representatives of Malta
- 21st-century Maltese physicians
- 20th-century Maltese physicians
- Honorary Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
- Foreign ministers of Malta
- 20th-century Maltese politicians
- 21st-century Maltese politicians