George Vella
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 | Joseph Brincat |
Succeeded by | Charles Mangion |
Personal details | |
Born | Żejtun, Crown Colony of Malta | 24 April 1942
Political party | Labour |
Spouse |
Miriam Grima (m. 1985) |
Children | 3 |
Alma mater | University of Malta |
George William Vella
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
Vella has voiced his support for the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation 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 favour 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[citation needed]
Foreign honours
- Greece:
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (5 July 2023)
- Grand Commander Order of Honour[4]
- Italy:
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (18 March 2024)[15]
- Latvia:
- Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (1 February 2024)[16]
- San Marino:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Agatha[4]
- United Kingdom:
- Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George[4]
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta:
- Grand Cross pro merito melitensi of the Order pro Merito Melitensi[4]
See also
References
- ^ Scicluna, Luke (2 April 2019). "George Vella approved as Malta's next President". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Minister". Archived from the original on 6 February 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e "Minister of Foreign Affairs - Maltese Consulate". Archived from the original on 19 April 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "George Vella Biography". www.gov.mt.
- ^ a b "Who is Dr George Vella? - TVM News". TVM English. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "Supporters". Campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. Retrieved 21 September 2017.
- ^ "Who is George Vella? This Maltese politician may be Malta's next President". www.guidememalta.com. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ 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. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
- ^ "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 16 June 2021.
- ^ https://www.quirinale.it/onorificenze/insigniti/1589640/
- ^ "Par apbalvošanu ar Triju Zvaigžņu ordeni - Latvijas Vēstnesis".
External links
- George William Vella's official page in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Malta)