Lawrence Gonzi

Lawrence Gonzi ( born July 1, 1953 in Valletta) is a Maltese politician. He was from 2004 to 2013 Prime Minister of Malta.

Biography

After studying law and becoming a Doctor of Law, he worked from 1975 to 1988 as a lawyer. From 1989 to 1997 he was chairman of the Mizzi Organisation, a multi-industry company that has more than 1,000 workers at one of the largest employers in Malta. During this time he was also active in various volunteer activities, including in the Catholic movement of Malta.

As a member of the conservative Nationalist Party (PN ), he was from 1988 to 1996 two legislatures Speaker of the House. In 1997 he was appointed Secretary General of the PN. After the re- election in September 1998, he received the office of the Minister of Social Affairs. After the appointment of Guido de Marcos to the presidency in 1999 Gonzi was Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Chief of the PN.

After the resignation of the prime minister and party leader Edward Fenech Adami in February 2004 voted him the PN as the new party leader. On March 23, he was sworn in as Prime Minister of Malta.

As social affairs minister Lawrence Gonzi put a zero - tolerance policy against the abuse of social benefits, and changes in labor law through. As prime minister, he supported Malta's membership in the EU, which had sought its predecessor Adami.

In March 2013 he lost the elections against the Social Democratic challenger Joseph Muscat.