Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca
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Coleiro Preca in 2017
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| 9th President of Malta | |
| In office 4 April 2014 – 4 April 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
| Preceded by | George Abela |
| Succeeded by | George Vella |
| Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity | |
| In office 11 March 2013 – 29 March 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
| Preceded by | Chris Said (Justice, Public Dialogue, and Family) |
| Succeeded by | Michael Farrugia |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 1998–2014 |
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| President of Eurochild | |
| Assumed office 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Hanna Heinonen (interim) |
| UNIDO goodwill ambassador | |
| Assumed office 2018 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marie-Louise Coleiro
7 December 1958 Qormi, Malta |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse |
Edgar Preca
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | University of Malta |
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, born on December 7, 1958, is a Maltese politician. She served as the President of Malta from 2014 to 2019. Since 2019, she has been the president of Eurochild, an organization that works for children's rights.
Before becoming President, Coleiro Preca was a member of the Labour Party. She was a Member of Parliament (MP) in Malta's Parliament from 1998 to 2014. She also served as the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity from 2013 to 2014.
Contents
Early Life and Political Journey
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca was born in Qormi, Malta. She studied at the University of Malta. There, she earned a degree in Legal and Humanistic Studies and a diploma to become a notary public.
Working with the Labour Party
Coleiro Preca was very active within the Labour Party. She was part of its main leadership team. She served as the Assistant General Secretary and later as the General-Secretary. She was the only woman to hold such a high position in a Maltese political party. She also helped start the Ġużè Ellul Mercer Foundation.
Serving in Parliament
From 1998 to 2014, Coleiro Preca was a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Maltese Parliament. As an MP for the opposition party, she focused on social policy. She was also a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Social Affairs.
Becoming President of Malta
On March 1, 2014, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca accepted the nomination to become President. She was sworn in as President on April 4, 2014. She followed George Abela in this role. At 55 years old, she was the youngest person to become President of Malta. She was also the second woman to hold this important position, after Agatha Barbara.
Foundations for a Better Society
As President, Coleiro Preca started several important foundations to help people in Malta.
The President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society
This foundation was created on June 25, 2014. It is a non-profit organization that works to build stronger communities. It does research and offers advice on different topics, including:
- Childhood
- Family life
- Living with dignity
- Freedom from addictions
- Traditional plant knowledge
The Malta Trust Foundation
Coleiro Preca also founded the Malta Trust Foundation on May 14, 2015. This foundation helps young people who are facing difficulties. It supports them in getting education and training. This helps them improve their lives and avoid poverty or social exclusion.
The President's Secret Garden
In 2015, Coleiro Preca opened a special garden at San Anton Palace to the public. It is called The President's Secret Garden. She opened it so that children would have more open spaces to play.
International Work
Coleiro Preca has also been involved in important international work.
- In 2015, she was the first Maltese President to join the Arraiolos Group. This group includes non-executive Presidents from European Union countries. They meet every year to talk about important issues and the future of the EU. Coleiro Preca hosted the group in Malta in 2017.
- She launched a platform called Empower in 2017. This platform encourages more women to take on leadership roles.
- She is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). She also works as a Special Ambassador for the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
- She is a member of the Advisory Board for Women Political Leaders Global Forum. She leads their #Girl2Leader Campaign, which encourages young girls to become leaders.
The Emanuele Cancer Research Foundation Malta
This foundation was started by The President's Trust, the Fondazione Terzo Pilastro, Italia e Mediterraneo, and the University of Malta. Coleiro Preca said that this foundation helps with research, development, and education about cancer. This work benefits people and families in Malta and the Mediterranean region.
Awards and Recognition
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca has received many awards and honours for her work.
National Honours
- She is a former Grand Master Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit in Malta.
Foreign Honours (Selected)
- She has received high honours from countries like Algeria, Bulgaria, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Tunisia, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Awards (Selected)
- She received the Agent of Change Award from UN Women and Global Partnership Forum.
- She was given the WPL Award 2017 by Women Political Leaders Global Forum.
- She received the ISESCO Gold Medal for her work in promoting peace.
Honorary Degrees
- She was made an Honorary Professor of Politics and International Studies by the University of Warwick in 2015.
- She received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Leicester in 2019.
See also
In Spanish: Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca para niños
