Two days of national mourning have been declared ahead of Saturday’s state funeral for former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, the government announced yesterday.

The man who spent half a century in politics died at his home on Monday night, aged 96.

His death elicited tributes and criticism in equal measure – with messages praising his many achievements offset by comments condemning his brash way of doing politics.

Political adversaries like Eddie Fenech Adami adopted a reconciliatory tone, saying Mr Mintoff’s positives outweighed the negatives. But others questioned why people they considered political villains should be branded heroes when they died.

Elected Prime Minister four times between 1955 and 1981, Mr Mintoff was lauded for introducing social services in a career during which he closed Nato bases in Malta and rubbed shoulders with notorious world leaders.

Flags on government buildings flew at half mast, as hundreds of comments on Mr Mintoff’s legacy were posted on timesofmalta.com and social media.

The funeral Mass, celebrated by Archbishop Paul Cremona, will be held at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta on Saturday at 10.30 a.m.

On Friday, Mr Mintoff will be lying in state for the public to bid him a final farewell. Mourners will be able to pay their respects at the President’s Palace in Valletta between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday.

On Saturday morning he will be lying in state from 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. Friday and Saturday have been declared days of national mourning.

More details will be announced in the coming days.