Lawrence Gonzi

Background

GONZI, Dr. Lawrence was born on July 1, 1953 in Valletta, Malta. Parents: Louis Gonzi and Inez Gonzi (née Galea).

Education

Malta University, Doctor of Laws, 1970- 1975. Spoken languages: Maltese, English, Italian.

Career

Lawrence Gonzi joined the Nationalist Party in 1976. That determined his further career. Later he would fruitfully work in Parliament together with many fellow students from the University of Malta, where Lawrence had defended a thesis on jurisprudence. On graduating from the university Gonzi had been specializing in the protection of the rights of disabled for more than ten years, at the same time taking part in the work of various non-government organizations.

For the first time he pretended to the post of Prime Minister, being the candidate of the Nationalist Party, but lost at the elections in 1987. Nevertheless in a year he was appointed Speaker of the House and held this position until 1996, when his Party was defeated again. Until March 23, 2004, when Lawrence was elected Prime Minister of Malta, he continued working in various state structures: he was the Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Committee and the Member of the Supervisory Prisons Committee, the Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, the Chairman of the Committee on the reform of psychiatry. There are the posts of the Minister of Social Policy and the Deputy Prime Minister in his service record. By the way, being the Minister of Social Policy, Lawrence Gonzi made a number of changes in labor laws and in law, defining the relations between an employer and a wageworker. His good work is still remembered in Malta. People respected him as an anti-fraud politician. Being the Speaker of the House he reformed the work of Parliament, established committees and made the work of Parliament more effective.

Works

• Other Work

  • Unlawful Assembly, 1975.

Religion

Lawrence Gonzi’s uncle – Michael Gonzi – is the first archbishop of Malta. Prime Minister shares his views, being strong Catholic.

Politics

As politician Lawrence Gonzi made a considerable private contribution to the development of social sphere in Malta. He contributed to the country's accession to the European Union, its integration into the European family. By the way, Lawrence Gonzi’s political views are similar to the views of current president Edward Fenech Adami. It is believed that the latter wanted to see Lawrence Gonzi as Prime Minister.

The main current political priority of Prime Minister Gonzi is that benefits from Malta’s membership in the European Union are exploited for the good of Maltese. He seeks to financial stability of the country, strengthening of the economy, and first of all by the development of tourism. According to Lawrence Gonzi, special attention must be paid to the roads condition, environmental protection, especially to the problem of waste recycling.

He disapproves divorces, argues against government’s adoption of the law on legalization of same-sex marriage, insists on hardening the struggle against drug dealing, in particular on increasing the sentences for selling drugs.

Membership

• Member, Malta Chamber of Advocates. Clubs: member. Casino Maltese. Honorary Member, Rotary Club of Malta.

Interests

• Sport, reading, fishing. Social policy, disabled rights.

• Sport & Clubs

  Football

Connections

He is married to Catherine (née Callus); the couple has three children.

Wife:

Catherine Callus

a father:

Luigi

a mother:

Ines

Granduncle:

Michael Gonzi

a brother:

Michael Gonzi