Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, Who Spent Three Years As Malta’s Prime Minister, Dies Aged 89
Former Maltese Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici has died at the age of 89.
The Labour Party hailed its former leader as a “committed social democrat” who dedicated his life to the working class.
“As the General Workers’ Union’s lawyer, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici worked hand in hand with Dom Mintoff’s PL over issues related to industrial law and strongly opposed the idea that striking workers should be jailed,” the PL pointed out.
Prime Minister Robert Abela described Mifsud Bonnici as a gentleman who strongly advocated for workers’ rights during his time in politics, trade unionism and his legal work.
“Whenever I spoke to him, oftentimes over a coffee in front of court, I admired his sense of service to the people at the bottom. He wanted to put his knowledge into practice; he loved his country as much as he loved workers. Karmenu remains an example to many.”
The Nationalist Party also paid tribute to the late Prime Minister, with PN Leader Bernard Grech describing him as a man who “strongly worked with determination in favour of his beliefs”.
Born in Cospicua in 1933, Mifsud Bonnici was co-opted to Parliament in 1982 following the resignation of Labour MP Paul Xuereb and appointed Minister of Labour and Social Services.
A year later, he was appointed Senior Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, where he was heavily involved in the dispute between the government and the Church over education reforms.
PL leader Dom Mintoff nominated Mifsud Bonnici as his successor in 1984 and the party’s general conference approved the nomination unanimously.
When the PL lost the 1987 election, the first to be held following modifications to the electoral system, Mifsud Bonnici spent four years as Opposition Leader but resigned following a second electoral defeat in 1992.
He was replaced as Labour leader by Alfred Sant but remained politically active, serving as MP until 1996 and eventually launching the Campaign for National Independence (CNI) to oppose Malta’s EU accession.
Lovin Malta sends its condolences to Mifsud Bonnici’s family and loved ones during this difficult time
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