Edward Fenech Adami
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Edward Fenech Adami was born in Birkirkara on 7 Febuary, 1934, the son of a customs officer. He was educated at the Jesuits College and the University of Malta, where he first studied economics and the classics and later law. He was called to the bar in 1959.
Dr. Fenech Adami joined the Christian Democratic Nationalist Party (PN) in the early 1960s, establishing a reputation as a reserved but determined and capable constituency official. He entered parliament in 1969 and in 1977, less than ten years later, after having served in a number of senior party posts, including president of the Administrative and General Councils, he was elected party leader, succeeding Dr. Giorgio Borg-Olivier.
Since 1969, he has been returned to Parliament at every General Election and as Leader of his Party won five popular elections, 1981, 1987, 1992, 1998 and 2003. In 1981, although the Nationalist Party obtained an absolute majority of votes, it did not succeed to win a majority of seats in Parliament, and therefore remained in Opposition. Constitutional changes were then made to guarantee that the party winning an absolute majority of votes would have a parliamentary majority as happened in 1987.
Between 1987 and 1996, President Edward Fenech Adami, as Prime Minister, ushered in a major period of change for Malta. The country's physical infrastructure was completely overhauled as were the legal and business structures. Trade was liberalized, whilst telecommunications, banking and financial services were deregulated and/or privatised. Malta also began a period of integration with the European Union when its application was presented on the 16th July 1990.
Between 1996 and 1998 Dr. Fenech Adami served as Leader of the Opposition until his Party was re-elected in September 1998 and served a further five years as Prime Minister and Leader of his Party. Malta’s EU application was reactivated and by December 2002 negotiations were fully concluded. In April 2003 Dr Edward Fenech Adami was again confirmed as Prime Minister, following yet another electoral victory.
A few days later, on the 16th April, 2003, Dr Fenech Adami signed Malta’s Accession Treaty with the European Union, together with nine other Heads of Government of countries set to become EU members on the 1st of May 2004.
As Prime Minister Dr Edward Fenech Adami, attended various EU Summits and also represented Malta at various Commonwealth Meetings. As Leader of his Party he attended various summits of the European Peoples Party. For his outstanding achievements and commitment at leading Malta within the EU, last December 2003, he was awarded with the European of the Year Award in Brussels. On the 7th February 2004, Dr Fenech Adami decided to tender his resignation as Nationalist Party Leader, upon reaching his 70th Birthday and was succeeded by Dr.Lawrence Gonzi. On the 23rd March 2004, Dr Edward Fenech Adami resigned his premiership as well as his parliamentary seat.
Dr Edward Fenech Adami is married to Mary nee’ Sciberras and they have five children, John, Beppe, Michael, Maria and Luigi. He was re-appointed Prime Minister on the 14th April 2003 following the Nationalist Party’s victory at the 2003 General Elections, which capacity he held until his nomination to the Presidency. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami was elected President of the Republic of Malta on 4th April 2004 till 4th April 2009.