Introduction

Dr Edward Fenech-Adami, also known as Eddie, (born February 7, 1934) was the Prime Minister of Malta from 1987 until 1996 and from 1998 until 2004. He took office as the seventh President of the Republic of Malta on April 4, 2004, succeeding Guido de Marco.

Education

Fenech-Adami was born in Birkirkara. He studied at the Jesuit College and the University of Malta , where he studied economics, the classics and law. He then became a barrister in 1959.

Politics

In early 1960s, Fenech-Adami joined the Partit Nazzjonalista. He was elected to the parliament in 1969. In 1977, he became the leader of the Christian Democratic Nationalist Party, after serving in several other senior positions in the party. His party gained the majority of votes in the 1981 elections, yet did not take government due to lack of parliamentary seats. The constitution was amended so that the party with a majority of votes automatically takes the government seats, thus ensuring democracy.

He became PM for the first time in 1987, when his party won national parliamentary elections. His party's government was reaffirmed again in 1992. He lost the 1996 elections, but the replacement government was torn by internal strife and lost the elections it was forced to call in 1998. In March 2003 he won a referendum to join the EU, and less than a month later he was again re-elected prime minister for the fourth time, in April 2003. He announced his retirement on March 24, 2004, shortly after completing an agreement for Malta to join the European Union, and was replaced by Lawrence Gonzi. In 2003 he was awarded the 'European of the Year' award.

He is married to Mary née Sciberras and they have five children.