Prime Minister of Malta (1984 - 1987)



Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici B.A., LL.D., M.P., son of the late Dr Lorenzo Mifsud Bonnici, M.D., and Catherine nee Buttigieg, was born at Cospicua on 17th July, 1933.

 

He received his primary education at the Government school and later entered the Lyceum from where he proceeded to the University of Malta where he graduated Bachelor of Arts. In 1954 he graduated Doctor of Laws. In 1967/68 he completed a course at the University College of London University in Taxation and Industrial Law. Since May 1968, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici has been a lecturer in Industrial and Fiscal Law at the University of Malta.

 

During his student days he was an active member of the Catholic Social Guild and later with the Young Christian Workers Movement to which he was its legal adviser. He was also a member of the Editorial Board of the newspaper "Il-Haddiem: published by the Young Christian Workers Movement.

 

In 1969, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici was appointed local consultant of the General Workers' Union. In this capacity he played an important role in the successful struggle by the GWU and the Labour Party against the enactment of the Industrial Relations Bill, as proposed by the then Nationalist Government, which included a provision of imprisonment of striking workers.

 

On 29th May, 1980, the Prime Minister Mr Dom Mintoff proposed Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici to be appointed Deputy Leader of the Labour Party responsible for Party Affairs. This proposal was unanimously approved by the General Conference of the Labour Movement. He was responsible for the Labour Party's electoral campaign during the 1981 general elections which the Labour Party won for the third consecutive time.

 

On 15th October, 1982, on a motion put forward by the Prime Minister Mr Dom Mintoff, the General Conference of the Labour Party and the GWU appointed Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici as Designate Leader of the Labour Movement.

 

On 2nd May, 1982, Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici was co-opted to Parliament after the resignation of Labour M.P. Mr Paul Xuereb and appointed Minister of Labour and Social Services. On 5th September, 1983 he was appointed Senior Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education. As Minister of Education he took and active part in the dispute between the Government and the Church on the introduction of the reform of free education for all.

 

Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22nd December, 1984, following the announcement of Mr Dom Mintoff's resignation on the same day in Parliament. His investiture was witnessed by Mr Mintoff himself.

As Prime Minister Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici was responsible for Citizenship, Establishments, Electoral Office, Oil Exploration, Wireless Telegraphy, Broadcasting, Civil Aviation, Ports and Shipping.

 

As Minister of the interior he was responsible for the Armed Forces, Police, Airport (Security), Immigration and Prison, while as Minister of Education he was responsible for Education, Public Libraries, Xandir Malta, Information Division and Gozo Affairs.

 

Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, a bachelor, has two sisters and three brothers, one of whom is a Nationalist member of Parliament and another is an Archpriest.

 

Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici's favourite pastime is reading.