George Abela facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Abela
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| 8th President of Malta | |
| In office 4 April 2009 – 4 April 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Lawrence Gonzi Joseph Muscat |
| Preceded by | Eddie Fenech Adami |
| Succeeded by | Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 April 1948 Qormi, Crown Colony of Malta |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Margaret Cauchi (1976–present) |
| Children | Robert Abela Marija Abela |
| Alma mater | University of Malta |
George Abela (born 22 April 1948) is a Maltese politician. He was the eighth president of Malta from April 2009 to April 2014. The President is the head of state in Malta, similar to a king or queen in some countries, but they are chosen by the parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Abela was born in Qormi, Malta. His parents were George and Ludgarda Abela. He went to primary school in Qormi and then to the Lyceum in Hamrun.
In 1965, he started studying at the University of Malta. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. After that, he worked as a teacher for a short time. He then became a notary public, which is a legal official. In 1975, he became a lawyer.
He worked for the General Workers Union as a legal advisor for 25 years. This gave him a lot of experience in laws about jobs and workers.
Family Life
George Abela is married to Margaret (née Cauchi). They have two children, Marija and Robert.
His son, Robert Abela, became the prime minister of Malta in 2020. This happened after Robert was chosen as the leader of the Malta Labour Party.
Leading Malta Football
In 1982, George Abela was chosen to be the chairman of the Malta Football Association (MFA). Before this, he was the president of the Qormi FC football club.
During his time at the MFA, he made many improvements. He helped build new training grounds, a gym, and a physiotherapy clinic. He also made sure artificial lights were put in. For the first time, players in the Malta national football team started training like professional athletes.
Involvement with the Labour Party
After ten years with the MFA, George Abela joined the Labour Party in 1992. He became the Deputy Leader, in charge of party matters.
When the Labour Party won the election in 1996, he became a legal advisor to the Prime Minister, Alfred Sant. This meant he attended important government meetings. However, he resigned in 1997 due to disagreements with the Prime Minister.
Later, in 1998, he left the Labour Party completely. This was because he disagreed with the party's decision to call an early election. In 2000, he also stopped working with the General Workers' Union.
After 2000, he focused on his own law practice. He advised different government groups, like the Malta Environment and Planning Authority (MEPA). He also advised four new worker unions, including the Malta Dockers' Union.
In 2008, he ran for the position of new Leader of the Labour Party. Other candidates included Joseph Muscat. George Abela came in second place in the election. The new leader, Joseph Muscat, then invited him to work with the party again. Abela became the Labour Party's representative on the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee (MEUSEC).
Becoming President of Malta
On 12 January 2009, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi announced that the government wanted George Abela to be the next President of Malta. He would take over from Eddie Fenech Adami.
This was a special moment in Maltese history. It was the first time the government chose a President from the opposing political party. Before becoming President, Abela resigned from MEUSAC and the Labour Party.
On 1 April 2009, the House of Representatives (Malta's parliament) approved George Abela as the 8th President of the Republic. Prime Minister Gonzi suggested him, and the Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat supported the idea. On 4 April 2009, George Abela officially started his role as President of Malta.
When he became President, Abela said, "There needs to be a reasonable dose of optimism and courage. But courage, optimism and hope are not enough. We need to develop our culture by learning to save our money and be cautious to not spend more than we can afford."
Helping Air Malta
George Abela was asked to help with talks between Air Malta and its worker unions. These unions included pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff. The Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, invited him to co-lead a group. This group's job was to bring the airline's four unions together to find solutions for the airline's future.
Awards and Recognition
George Abela has received several important awards for his service.
National Awards
Malta : Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit. He received this award automatically because he was the President of Malta.
International Awards
Lithuania : Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (2012)
Romania : Sash of the Order of the Star of Romania (2010)
Spain : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (2009)
See also
In Spanish: George Abela para niños
