Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
| Her Excellency Marie Louise Coleiro Preca KUOM | |
|---|---|
| 9th President of Malta | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 4 April 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
| Preceded by | George Abela |
| Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity | |
| In office 11 March 2013 – 29 March 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
| Preceded by | Chris Said (Justice, Public Dialogue, and Family) |
| Succeeded by | Michael Farrugia |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 December 1958 Qormi, British Malta |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse(s) | Edgar Preca |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence | San Anton Palace |
| Alma mater | University of Malta |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
| Website | Government website |
Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, KUOM (born 7 December 1958) is a Maltese politician who has been the 9th President of Malta since 4 April 2014. A member of the Labour Party, she previously had been a Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives of Malta since 1998[1] and served as the Minister of the Family and Social Solidarity from 11 March 2013 to 29 March 2014.
Early life and career
Born at Qormi, Coleiro Preca studied at the University of Malta where she graduated BA in Legal and Humanistic Studies (International Studies) and Diploma Notary Public.
Within the Malta Labour Party, Coleiro Preca has served as a member of the National Executive, Assistant General Secretary and General Secretary of the Party (1982-1991). She was the only woman to have served in such a senior post of a Maltese political party. In addition to these posts Coleiro Preca also held the post of member of the National Bureau of Socialist Youths (now the Labour Youth Forum), President of the Women Section of the Party (1996-2001), founder member of the Ġużé Ellul Mercer Foundation and publisher of the Party's weekly newspaper 'Il-Ħelsien' (now defunct).
She has served as MP in the Maltese Parliament from 1998 to 2014. In the 2008 general election she was the first elected MP. As an Opposition MP Coleiro Preca served as Shadow Minister for Social Policy and as member of the Parliamentary Permanent Committee for Social Affairs beginning in 1998.
After Alfred Sant resigned as Leader of the Labour Party in 2008, Coleiro Preca unsuccessfully contested the Leadership election.
Presidency
On 1 March 2014, Coleiro Preca accepted the nomination for President. Succeeding George Abela, she was sworn in as President on 4 April 2014.[2] Coleiro Preca is the youngest person to assume the office of President, sworn in at the age of 55, and is the second woman to hold the post after Agatha Barbara.[3]
In 2014 Coleiro Preca announced the formation of The President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society. The Foundation is a non-profit entity advising the President of Malta on initiatives to help improve social inclusion and standards of living and is headed by Dr. Ruth Farrugia.[4]
Honours
National Honours
-
Malta : Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit by right as a President of Malta
References
- ↑ "PL motion calls for setting up of permanent committee for family affairs". Malta Independent. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
- ↑ "Marie Louise Coleiro Preca accepts nomination for President". MaltaToday. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "Coleiro Preca to be named as President within days". Times of Malta. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ "President's Wellbeing Foundation". Times of Malta. Retrieved 17 Nov 2014.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by George Abela |
President of Malta 2014–present |
Incumbent |
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