Joseph Muscat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Joseph Muscat
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Muscat in 2018
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| 13th Prime Minister of Malta | |
| In office 11 March 2013 – 13 January 2020 |
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| President | George Abela Marie Louise Coleiro Preca George Vella |
| Deputy | Louis Grech Chris Fearne |
| Preceded by | Lawrence Gonzi |
| Succeeded by | Robert Abela |
| Leader of the Labour Party | |
| In office 6 June 2008 – 12 January 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Alfred Sant |
| Succeeded by | Robert Abela |
| 13th Commonwealth Chair-in-Office | |
| In office 27 November 2015 – 19 April 2018 |
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| Preceded by | Maithripala Sirisena |
| Succeeded by | Theresa May |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 1 October 2008 – 11 March 2013 |
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| President | Eddie Fenech Adami George Abela |
| Prime Minister | Lawrence Gonzi |
| Preceded by | Charles Mangion (Acting); Alfred Sant |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Gonzi (Acting); Simon Busuttil |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 12 June 2004 – 25 September 2008 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 January 1974 Pietà, State of Malta |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Michelle Tanti |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Malta University of Bristol |
Joseph Muscat (born 22 January 1974) is a Maltese politician. He served as the 13th Prime Minister of Malta from 2013 to 2020. He was also the leader of the Labour Party from 2008 to 2020.
Muscat was first elected Prime Minister in March 2013. He won again in June 2017. Before becoming Prime Minister, he was a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2008. He also served as the Leader of the Opposition from 2008 to 2013.
Muscat sees himself as a progressive and liberal politician. He supports policies that help businesses and promote social freedoms. During his time as Prime Minister, Malta's economy grew. He was praised for bringing people together to achieve economic success.
He led the Labour Party to become very strong in Maltese politics. However, he also faced criticism. On 1 December 2019, he announced his resignation. He stepped down on 13 January 2020, following public protests. Joseph Muscat is the only leader of a Maltese political party to have won all ten elections he contested between 2009 and 2019.
Early Life and Education
Family Background
Joseph Muscat was born on 22 January 1974, in Pietà, Malta. He grew up in a family from Burmarrad and is an only child. His father worked as a fireworks importer. Muscat often mentioned his family's background. He used it to explain his dislike for rules that make it hard for businesses to grow.
Muscat is married to Michelle Muscat (née Tanti). They have twin daughters named Etoile Ella and Soleil Sophie.
School and University
Muscat went to primary school in St. Paul's Bay. He also attended Stella Maris and St. Aloysius’ College. During his time at St. Aloysius' in the 1980s, Church schools were closed by the government. This experience influenced his later political views. In 2013, the Labour Party promised to keep supporting Church schools financially.
He earned several degrees from the University of Malta. These included a Bachelor of Commerce (1995), a Bachelor of Arts (1996), and a Master of Arts in European Studies (1997). In 2007, he received a PhD from the University of Bristol. His PhD research was about large companies and small businesses in Malta. He completed this while he was a Member of the European Parliament.
Political Career
Early Political Involvement
Muscat was active in the youth section of the Labour Party, called the Labour Youth Forum. He served as financial secretary from 1994 to 1997. He was also acting chairperson in 1997. From 2001 to 2003, he was the education secretary for the party. He also chaired the party's annual conference in November 2003.
During his university years (1992–1997), Muscat worked as a journalist. He worked for the Labour Party's media, including maltastar.com and Super One Radio. He later became assistant head of news at Super One Television in 1996. Muscat also wrote columns for newspapers like L-Orizzont and It-Torċa. He also contributed to The Times of Malta.
In 1997, Muscat worked as an investment adviser for the Malta External Trade Corporation. He then joined the Institute for the Promotion of Small Enterprise.
After the Labour Party lost the 2003 general election, Muscat joined a working group. This group helped change the Labour Party's views on the European Union. The party, which had been against joining the EU, then decided to support it. In November 2003, Muscat was approved as a candidate for the European Parliament.
Member of the European Parliament (2004–2008)
Muscat was elected to the European Parliament in 2004. He received the most votes among Labour Party candidates. As a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), he was Vice-President of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. He also worked on issues related to the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.
He was involved in groups that worked with countries like Belarus and those in south-east Europe. He also supported reducing taxes for satellite television. He advocated for customers to watch sports events for free. Muscat also focused on environmental protection issues in Malta. He helped create new rules for the EU's financial services.
In 2006, he was named "Outstanding Young Person of the Year." Muscat left his seat in the European Parliament in 2008. He then became a member of the Maltese Parliament. He also took on the role of Leader of the Opposition.
Leader of the Labour Party
On 24 March 2008, Muscat announced he would run for party leader. He wanted to replace Alfred Sant, who had resigned. Muscat aimed to make the Labour Party a positive and forward-looking movement. He wanted it to include all progressive and moderate people.
Muscat was elected as the new party leader on 6 June 2008. At that time, he was not a member of the Maltese Parliament. To become Leader of the Opposition, he was later given a seat in Parliament on 1 October 2008. This happened after Joseph Cuschieri gave up his seat for Muscat.
As leader, Muscat made several changes to the Labour Party. He changed the party's official name and emblem. In November 2008, a new party statute was approved. This created a National Congress to choose future leaders and approve election plans. Other changes aimed to involve more women and young people in the party. The minimum age for party membership was lowered to 16.
In the 2009 European Parliament Elections, Labour candidates won 55% of the votes. They elected three of the five Maltese MEPs. Labour also won the local council elections in 2009 with almost 55% of the votes.
In 2011, a referendum was held on introducing divorce in Malta. Joseph Muscat personally supported the introduction of divorce. The referendum was held on 28 May 2011. Just over 53% of voters supported divorce. Muscat said this result marked the birth of a "new Malta." He was proud to have done what he believed was right.
In March 2012, Labour won the Local Councils elections again with 56% of the vote. In December 2012, the Nationalist government lost a vote on the 2013 Budget. This led to the government falling. Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi then advised the President to dissolve Parliament.
First Term as Prime Minister
Joseph Muscat ran for Prime Minister for the first time in the March 2013 general election. His slogan was "Malta belongs to all of us." The Labour Party won by a large margin, with 55% of the votes. This was the biggest majority for any party since 1955. Joseph Muscat became Prime Minister on 11 March 2013.
When the new government took office, Malta's public finances were in a difficult state. The European Commission opened a procedure for Malta's high deficit. The economy had also entered a recession in early 2012. There were many unemployed people, and the main utility provider was struggling.
After a few months, Muscat stated that his government had turned Malta's economy around. His government reduced energy prices, a key promise from their 2013 election plan. They also improved health and energy sectors. They made sure medicines were always available. Free childcare centers were introduced, and social benefits for parents increased. They also guaranteed youth employment and strengthened civil liberties.
In 2014, Muscat's government started the Malta Individual Investor Programme. This program allowed people to gain Maltese citizenship by investing money in the country. This program brought in about €600 million in revenue. Muscat often defended and promoted this program globally.
In 2015, the National Development and Social Fund (NDSF) was created. It received money from the citizenship program. This money was used for public projects. About €90 million was invested in health, social housing, and community centers. It also helped various non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The program also helped fund COVID-19 relief efforts in 2020 and 2021.
Malta became an attractive place for foreign investment. This included areas like financial services, online gaming, and technology. His government led to big changes in welfare. They introduced policies to help people transition off benefits. The minimum wage was also increased.
These changes led to strong economic growth, over 6%. Malta had the lowest unemployment rate in the eurozone. The public deficit was eliminated, and the country had its first surplus in nearly 40 years. Public debt also decreased. Poverty was reduced, and pensions increased for the first time in 25 years. Muscat said these results were achieved by his government working as a team.
Family-friendly policies led to more women joining the workforce. First-time home buyers saved money. Car registration tax was refunded. Low-income couples and single parents received in-work benefits. Student stipends were given to more students. Civil unions were also introduced.
In terms of good governance, the Whistleblower Act came into force in 2013. In 2014, the time limit for prosecuting political corruption was removed. In 2015, a new law regulated the funding of political parties.
Cabinet meetings were held regularly and also in different towns. This allowed local councils to share their ideas. Public consultation meetings were also launched, called "A Government that Listens."
In 2014, 16-year-olds gained the right to vote in local council elections. In 2018, Malta became the second EU country to lower the voting age to 16 for all elections.
After 2013, the government took many steps to help people financially. Income tax was reduced every year. Thousands received tax rebates. The first-ever tax-free budgets were presented. The government's fuel policy led to stable prices for consumers. Many people who had grievances from before 1979 received compensation.
Tourist arrivals reached record levels. In 2019, 2.8 million tourists visited Malta. Gozo also saw its largest economic growth in history. The number of Gozitans working in Gozo increased by over 3,000. Most new jobs in Gozo were in the private sector. Barts Medical School opened its Gozo campus.
More jobs led to a new middle class. The number of homeowner families increased by 30,000. Household deposits in local banks grew by €5 billion.
In the environment, a new gas-fired power station opened in 2017. The old heavy fuel oil plant was shut down. In 2018, the Marsa power station was dismantled. This station had caused a lot of air pollution. Carbon dioxide emissions in the area were greatly reduced. The chimney of the old Delimara power station was also taken down.
In 2018, changes were made to the IVF law. This gave future parents a better chance of having a child. In 2019, a €50 million project was started to build over 500 social housing apartments.
New schools were built, and many others were maintained. Free tablets were given to students. Healthy breakfast clubs were launched for primary school children. Fees for SEC and MATSEC exams were removed.
Waiting times for operations decreased. More medicines were provided for free by hospitals and pharmacies. New wards were built at Mater Dei Hospital. There was huge investment in new medical equipment. New community health centers opened. A €40 million project for a new "health hub" in Paola began. The government also started covering travel expenses for both parents when children needed treatment abroad.
Muscat admitted that his first term had challenges. These included the environment and good governance.
The end of 2015 saw two major international meetings in Malta. The Valletta Summit brought together EU and African leaders. They discussed how to work together on migration. Then, from 27 to 29 November, Commonwealth leaders met in Malta. Queen Elizabeth opened this meeting. Over 4,000 delegates attended each summit.
After this meeting, Malta chaired the Commonwealth for two and a half years. British Prime Minister Theresa May praised Malta's work.
On 7 April 2014, Muscat temporarily lost his sight. This was caused by ultraviolet radiation, likely from a political rally the day before.
Panama Papers Allegations
In 2016, two of Muscat's close colleagues were linked to the Panama Papers. These were Konrad Mizzi, a minister, and Keith Schembri, his chief of staff. They held companies in Panama.
In 2017, a journalist claimed that Muscat's wife had a third company in Panama called Egrant. The Opposition Leader also made claims about large money transfers to Egrant. Muscat and his wife denied these claims. Muscat asked for an independent investigation. He called the allegations the "biggest political lie in Malta's political history." He said he wanted to protect Malta and called a general election.
The investigation involved 477 witnesses. Experts examined many documents and digital records. The inquiry involved five countries and lasted over 15 months. The results were made public on 22 July 2018. The inquiry found no proof linking the Prime Minister, his wife, or their family to the company. It found no evidence to support the claims. Muscat called the Egrant allegations an "undisputed and elaborate" attempt to frame him politically.
General Election 2017
The Labour Party's campaign focused on its successes from the past four years. Muscat highlighted record economic growth and employment. He also pointed to the country's finances changing from deficit to surplus. The campaign emphasized promises kept, like tax reductions and social benefits. They also mentioned childcare and higher student stipends. Labour's efforts against poverty and pension increases were also key topics.
Muscat's promises for the next five years included sharing the country's wealth better. He promised to give back public holidays that fell on weekends. There was also a plan to resurface all of Malta's roads. A tax bonus for workers earning up to €60,000 was also promised.
The Labour Party, led by Muscat, won the 2017 General Election. They returned to power with an even larger majority.
Second Term as Prime Minister
After being re-elected, Muscat's first promise was to introduce a gay marriage law. Same-sex marriage became legal by mid-July 2017. This happened after a vote in Parliament.
Leading the European Union Council From January to June 2017, Malta held the six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union. On 3 February 2017, Joseph Muscat hosted a summit in Valletta. All 28 EU leaders discussed migration and preparations for the EU's 60th anniversary. Malta's presidency completed at least 24 new laws with the European Parliament. Many of these helped citizens, like those for high-speed internet. Malta's presidency was known for building agreement among countries.
In July, Muscat closed Malta's EU Council presidency. He spoke about the country's achievements. A Brussels-based news magazine praised Malta's presidency. It said Malta was good at diplomacy and reaching agreements. It also praised Malta's negotiating skills.
Both the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, recognized Malta's success. Juncker called Malta's presidency "impressive." Tusk described it as one of the best experiences in his professional life.
Improving Malta's Roads A big plan was launched to improve Malta's road network. This was to meet the needs of the island's growing economy. A new agency was set up, and €700 million was given for this project. Many road projects began, including the largest one ever in Marsa. Free public transport schemes were also launched for young people and the elderly.
Election Results 2014–2019 In May 2014, the Labour Party won the European Parliament election. They received 53% of the votes. In April 2015, the Labour Party also won the Local Council elections with over 53% of votes. On 25 May 2019, the Labour Party won the European Parliament election again. They won by almost 43,000 votes over the Nationalist Party. They received 54% of the total votes. For the first time, the Labour Party elected four of the six Maltese MEPs. Local Council elections were held on the same day. The Labour Party won by a large margin, getting 58% of the total votes.
With these results, Joseph Muscat is the only leader of a political party in Malta to have won all ten elections he contested. He won both from opposition and government. He won against three different leaders of the Nationalist Party. Joseph Muscat also received the highest number of votes in a General Election in 2013, and broke his own record in 2017. He is the only Maltese Prime Minister to get more than 50% of all eligible votes in an election, which he did twice.
2019 Political Events and Resignation
In October 2017, a journalist died in a car bomb attack. Muscat promised a full investigation. He faced accusations of not taking action against two close aides. These were Keith Schembri, his chief of staff, and Konrad Mizzi, a minister.
In late November 2019, Muscat's time as Prime Minister faced challenges. A prominent businessman was arrested. Muscat's chief of staff was also linked to the case. On 25 November 2019, after protests, Muscat decided to grant a presidential pardon to Melvin Theuma. Theuma was considered a middleman in the journalist's murder. On 29 November, Muscat denied the same pardon to the businessman. That same day, Muscat told the President of Malta that he would soon resign as Prime Minister.
On 1 December, he announced he would step down after a Labour Party leadership contest. Many newspapers and international media called for Muscat to resign immediately. The European Parliament also called for his immediate resignation. National protests were held, demanding he step down sooner than January 2020.
Muscat gave his final speech as Prime Minister on 10 January 2020. After Robert Abela won the Labour Party's internal election, Muscat resigned as Prime Minister.
After Leaving Office
In late 2019 and early 2020, Muscat took several trips abroad. This included a trip to London and a family trip to Dubai. He attended an investment summit there.
In August 2020, Muscat was questioned by police about the journalist's murder case. He was not under investigation. In October 2020, Muscat resigned as a Member of the Maltese Parliament.
In December 2020, Joseph Muscat testified in the public inquiry into the murder. He confirmed close contacts with the businessman but denied knowing about the murder plot. He stated that there was no justification for the assassination. He said that he wanted to see a breakthrough in the case before leaving office.
In July 2021, the Inquiry's report was published. It concluded that the State was responsible for the murder. However, it also found that the State had no prior knowledge of the assassination. The report clearly stated that Joseph Muscat was not involved in the murder. Muscat accepted the conclusions of the Inquiry. He disagreed that a state of impunity was created under his leadership. He noted that the alleged hitmen were caught quickly, and the alleged mastermind was caught months later. He said this showed that there was no impunity.
In November 2023, a commission cleared Dr. Muscat of accusations of trading influence. This was related to gifts he received from the businessman. The commission found no evidence that the gifts were for economic advantage.
Honours and Awards
National Honours
Malta: Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit (2013) – This honour is given to the Prime Minister of Malta.
Foreign Honours
United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (2015)
Greece: Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Grand Cross – Special Class – of the Order pro Merito Melitensi
Germany: Great Cross of Merit – Grand Cross
Ukraine: Order of the Prince Yaroslav the Wise – II class
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (10 January 2018)
Images for kids
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Muscat in 2018
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Muscat in 2010
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Muscat addressing the Maltese Parliament in 2011
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Muscat in 2014
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Muscat in 2016
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Joseph Muscat in January 2020
See also
In Spanish: Joseph Muscat para niños
