Lawrence Gonzi Profile

Lawrence Gonzi, 59, became leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister in March 2004, succeeding Eddie Fenech Adami.

Dr Gonzi was sworn in for a second term as Prime Minister after the PN won the 2008 election.

Born on July 1, 1953 he is the eldest of four siblings. Dr Gonzi was educated at St Aloysius College and the Archbishop’s Seminary. He graduated as lawyer from the University of Malta in 1975.

He soon became company lawyer with the Mizzi Organisation where he served as group chairman between 1989 and 1997. Dr Gonzi was general president of the Catholic Action Movement for 10 years until 1986 and was actively involved in the voluntary sector, working with disabled people.

In 1987 he unsuccessfully contested the election with the PN. In the same year he was appointed the first chairman of the National Commission for the Disabled and retained the role until April 1994.

In 1988 he was elected Speaker of the House, a post he was unanimously re-elected to in 1992 for a second legislature. Dr Gonzi was elected to Parliament for the first time in the 1996 election.

A year later he was elected general secretary of the PN and deputy leader of the party in 1999. He lives in Marsascala and is married to Catherine née Callus. They have three children: David, Mikela and Paul.