Former Labour Minister Freddie Micallef, a fixture in Maltese politics for nearly four decades, died yesterday less than a month after celebrating his 72nd birthday.

A long-standing member of parliament from the Mosta district where he was born, Mr Micallef retired from politics in 1996.

He was first elected to Parliament in 1966 after heading the Labour Party’s youth section for three years.

In 1971 he was appointed parliamentary secretary for agriculture and three years later was promoted to minister with the same portfolio. In various periods between 1974 and 1987 Mr Micallef was minister responsible for industry, labour and social services.

In 1997 he was awarded the National Order of Merit.

In his retirement Mr Micallef was also an advisor to then Labour leader Alfred Sant – a close friend – after the 2003 election.

Three years ago, Mr Micallef spoke for the first time in public about his fight against breast cancer, which was diagnosed in December 2007.

In an interview with Illum Mr Micallef spoke of the ordeal of having to undergo five operations and sessions of chemotherapy. The treatment had been successful.

The Labour Party yesterday paid tribute to Mr Micallef, expressing its condolences to his wife Maria Concetta and their children Carlo, Dino and Maria.

“Freddie Micallef will surely be remembered for his political achievements in a long career,” the PL said.

The Nationalist Party also expressed its condolences, adding Mr Micallef had given his sincere contribution to Malta according to his political beliefs.