|
 Dom
Mintoff has no need an introduction. Mintoff has
been four times Prime Minister, Dom Mintoff was born
on the 6th August 1916 in Cospicua and studied at
the Seminary, the Lyceum and the Royal University of
Malta. In 1939 he was awarded a Rhodes scholarship
and obtained his qualifications in science and
engineering, which included M.A. (Oxon), B.Sc., and
B.E. & C.E.
Mintoff entered politics in 1935 as assistant
secretary of the Cospicua Labour Party Club. He
served as general secretary of the Labour Party
(1935 - 1937) but had to resign to proceed with his
studies abroad. At the age of 23 he was already
writing in the local press about new and fresh ideas
for the Maltese politics. On his return from England
in 1944, he was again appointed general secretary
but resigned when he was elected deputy leader.
In 1945 Mintoff successfully contested the general
elections for the Legislative Assembly. In spite of
the pressures made by Dr. Boffa on the governor,
Mintoff was not permitted in the executive council,
until 1st August 1946. After the Labour Party
victory in the elections of 1947, Mintoff was chosen
as Minister of Works and Reconstruction, a post he
held up to September 1949. That summer Mintoff led
delegations to London together with Mr. Edward Ellul
and with Dr.Paul Boffa. Internal problems over the
ultimatum given to Britain regarding Marshall Aid
cause a split within the party. By the end of 1949,
Mintoff became the leader of the Malta Labour Party,
whilst Boffa launched the Malta Workers Party.
Mintoff was elected again in 1950. After the 1951
and 1953 elections, he was sworn as leader of the
opposition. In February 1955 Mintoff led the MLP to
an electoral victory. That same year he led a
delegation to around table conference in London to
discuss the question of integration. In April 1958
Mintoff resigned in protest against the British, an
action that was followed by a general strike and
riots all over the island on 28th April. He then led
an MLP delegation to London to discuss the
re-introduction of self-government.
Mintoff contested the 1962 and 1966 elections when
the church declared that it was a mortal sin to vote
for the MLP. Mintoff was leader of the opposition up
to June 1971 when he won the elections and the first
things he did as prim minister was to remove Sir
Maurice Dorman from the post of governor and
appointed in his stead a Maltese, Sir Anthony Mamo,
who in 1974 was chosen as the first president of the
Republic of Malta.
Mintoff won two other elections in 1976 and in 1981.
He resigned from prime minister and leader of the
MLP after thirteen and a half years as prime
minister on 22 December 1984 but retained his
parliamentary seat. He contested the 1987, 1992 and
1996 elections, up to 1992 he was the oldest member
in the House of representatives. He was elected in
each of the fourteen general elections he contested.
In fact from 1950 up to 1981 he was always the most
popular candidate elected on two electoral districts
on the first count and with the highest number of
votes.
During his years as Prime Minister, Mintoff changed
Malta into a Republic and on 31 March 1979 made
Malta totally free when the last British forces left
the island. He was one of the first western leaders
to visit China and the Far East, worked for peace in
the Mediterranean and negotiated a protocol
neutrality agreement with Italy in 1980. He is also
considers as one of the foremost social reformers
who managed to change the local mentality with his
writings, speeches, and later on his administration.
Mintoff contributed to The Knight and was its editor
from 1953 to 1955, He also wrote in various local
newspapers and had many of his speeches, discussions
and correspondence regarding Malta's struggle with
Britain published various books and pamphlets.
Mintoff marred Moira Bentinck in 1947 and they have
two daughters, Anne and Joan. |
