Description
The office of the President of Malta came into being on 13 December 1974, when Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth.
Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state and Queen of Malta, and Sir Anthony Mamo became the first President. The former Chief Justice held office as President of Malta until December 1976.
He was succeeded by Gozo poet and writer Anton Buttigieg, who had previously served as Minister of Justice. He held office as the second President of Malta between December 1976 and December 1981.
Retired cabinet minister Albert Hyzler was called to serve as Acting President of the Republic from December 1981 to February 1982.
He was succeeded by Agatha Barbara, the first female President of Malta. The former teacher and Minister of Education was also the first woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.
Former Speaker of the House Paul Xuereb was announced as Acting President in 1987 and stayed in the role for two years until Dr Censu Tabone took the Oath of Office as Head of State in 1989.
The Gozo-born physician was a respected eye specialist and worked in Asia to control and eradicate the destructive eye disease trachoma before entering politics.
Ugo Mifsud Bonnici was sworn in as Malta’s fifth President in 1994 after almost three decades as an MP.
Professor Guido de Marco was Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs until his nomination to the Presidency of Malta in 1999. He played a key role in forging Malta’s application to join the EU.
After leading the Nationalist Party for 27 years, Eddie Fenech Adami became President of Malta in 2004. The Birkirkara lawyer first entered Parliament in 1969 and served four terms as Prime Minister of Malta.
George Abela was nominated as President in 2009 by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. He established The President’s Solidarity Fun Run in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation, which is still held every year.
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca served as the ninth President of Malta from 2014 to 2019. Previously, she was the Minister of the Family and Social Solidarity.
George Vella is the current President. He was Foreign Minister from 1996 to 1998 under Prime Minister Alfred Sant, and from 2013 to 2017 under Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
