Hundreds of friends including many former political adversaries gathered at the Hilton Malta this evening to greet Eddie Fenech Adami’s autobiography Eddie: My Journey.
The evening recalled the life and times of a political giant – who turned 80 last week.
In a short introductory video traversing his long political career, Dr Fenech Adami had the 800 guests laughing when he recounted a meeting with former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
"Berlusconi turned to my wife Mary and asked her: 'Tell me, how does your husband make love to you?'"
As was to be expected, particular focus was placed on Malta’s accession to the EU, which Dr Fenech Adami piloted as Prime Minister and leader of the Nationalist Party.
He recalled that it had been "only logical" for him to call a general election soon after winning the EU referendum in 2003 despite scepticism by then European Commission president Romano Prodi.
He recounted the moment when just after the referendum he informed Mr Prodi that he would be holding an election. Mr Prodi's reply was: "Are you mad?"
"It was only logical for me to hold an election because I believed the people would not be changing their mind in a couple of weeks and that meant I would win," he said, adding his modus operandi had always been based on logic.
Dr Fenech Adami was surprised by a live Skype interview with Mr Prodi, in Bologna, who confirmed his fear at the time that Malta's situation could damage the European enlargement project.
"Anything that could put the EU enlargement project in danger was a problem. But I had great confidence in Fenech Adami and in the end everything worked out well," he said.
It was a brief exchange between the two former prime ministers and friends.
Dr Fenech Adami underlined Mr Prodi's efforts at the time to ensure Malta made it into the EU and obtain a deal that best suited the country.
The guests for the evening included President George Abela, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and Opposition leader Simon Busuttil.
Tenor Joseph Calleja sang during the evening.
Steve Mallia, editor-in-chief at Times of Malta, helped write the autobiography, which is recounted in the first person.
The book was published by Allied Publications and all proceeds will go to Dar tal-Providenza.
Eddie Fenech Adami, former prime minister and President, will be signing copies of the book tomorrow at the Nationalist Party headquarters between 10am and noon, followed by another session at Agenda Bookshop, Tigné Point, Sliema, on March 1, also between 10am and noon.
Eddie Fenech Adami and Times of Malta editor-in-chief Steve Mallia being introduced by Herman Grech at the launch of Dr Fenech Adami's autobiography.
