Lawrence Gonzi

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Lawrence Gonzi


imagesize = 140px
order = Prime Minister of Malta
president = Guido de Marco
Eddie Fenech Adami
deputy = Tonio Borg
term_start = 23 March 2004
term_end =
predecessor = Eddie Fenech Adami
successor =
birth_date = birth date and age|1953|07|01|df=y
birth_place = Pietà, Malta
party = PN
religion = Roman Catholic
spouse = Catherine Callus
children = David
Mikela
Paul

Lawrence Gonzi (born July 1, 1953) is the incumbent Prime Minister of Malta. He is also the leader of the governing Nationalist Party (Maltese: "Partit Nazzjonalista"). He became Prime Minister on March 23, 2004, following the retirement of Eddie Fenech Adami.

Family

Gonzi is the son of Luigi Gonzi [http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/gonzi.html] and Ines Galea and grandnephew of Mgr. Mikiel Gonzi, the former Archbishop of Malta. His younger brother is Michael Gonzi. Gonzi is married to Catherine née Callus, and they have three children: David, Mikela and Paul.

Political life

In 1987 Lawrence Gonzi contested the general elections unsuccessfully with the Nationalist Party. He was appointed Speaker of the House in 1988 and in 1992 he was reappointed to the post with a unanimous vote. Gonzi contested the general elections again in 1996 and this time he was successful. As an opposition MP he served as Shadow Minister for social policy, secretary of the Nationalist parliamentary group, party whip and later general secretary of the party.

In 1998 he was returned and appointed Minister for Social Policy. In May 1999 he successfully contested the post of Deputy Leader of the party and was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the House.

Gonzi was again successful in 2003 and, following the resignation of Eddie Fenech Adami as Prime Minister and party leader, Gonzi won the leadership contest held in March 2004. He was appointed Prime Minister shortly afterwards. From 2004 onwards, Gonzi took under his responsibility the finance portfolio as Minister of Finance. As Minister of Finance, he successfully managed the process to achieve the Maastricht criteria, propelling Malta into the Eurozone.

In the general election held on 8 March 2008, Gonzi was again elected as Prime Minister, having defeated narrowly Alfred Sant. Apart from Prime Minister his portfolio includes European, national and local governing, planning and environment, military, sustainable development, and tourism portfolios. Assisting him as Parliamentary Secretaries there will be Mario de Marco, as Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, and Chris Said, as Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue and Information.

Gonzi was confirmed as Leader of the Nationalist Party for the second time at a General Council of the Partit Nazzjonalista on May 11 2008.