President Emeritus Eddie Fenech Adami, 77, was fitted with a pacemaker yesterday and will join his family at home “just in time for Christmas”, after he was hospitalised on Wednesday when he fainted while having lunch.

His son, MP Beppe Fenech Adami, said when contacted that the pacemaker intervention had gone well but the former Prime Minister was being kept overnight at Mater Dei Hospital for observation.

He is expected to return home this morning, just in time for Christmas, according to his son, who was with him on Wednesday when he fell ill in a restaurant.

During lunch, Dr Fenech Adami’s heartbeat weakened, slowing down and causing him to temporarily lose consciousness.

His son said it was unexpected because Dr Fenech Adami was looking “quite good”.

Inserting a pacemaker is considered to be a minor operation but doctors took into consideration Dr Fenech Adami’s medical history and his age.

Dr Fenech Adami underwent a heart bypass operation some years ago and subsequently underwent minor medical interventions to correct heart-related problems.

Things seem to be back on track, and the family plans to celebrate Christmas lunch together. Dr Fenech Adami was elected Nationalist Party leader in 1977 and led the party for 27 years. He stepped down as Prime Minister in 2004, making way for Lawrence Gonzi, and was appointed President in that same year for a five-year term.

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