Myriam Spiteri Debono facts for kids

Myriam Spiteri Debono was born on October 25, 1952. She is a very important politician from Malta. Currently, she is the 11th President of Malta. This is a big deal because she is the first woman from Gozo to become President! Before that, she was also the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta from 1996 to 1998. She was the first woman to hold that job too.

Myriam Spiteri Debono's Early Life

Myriam Spiteri Debono was born Miriam Zammit in Victoria, Gozo. Her parents were Pawlu Zammit and his wife. She grew up and went to school in Gozo.

Education and Studies

Later, she went to the University of Malta. There, she studied English Literature and Linguistics. She finished her first degree in 1973. While at university, she also helped start the Socialist Students Union. She then studied law and became a Notary Public in 1980. A notary public is someone who can legally witness signatures and make sure documents are real.

First Public Jobs

Myriam Spiteri Debono held some important public jobs early in her career. She was the head of the Cooperatives Board. She was also a founding member of the Gender Equality Commission. This group works to make sure everyone is treated fairly, no matter their gender.

Political Career Beginnings

She was a candidate for the Malta Labour Party in five different elections. These were in 1981, 1987, 1992, 1996, and 2003. Even though she was not elected as a member of parliament, she was still very active in the party. In 1982, she was elected to the party's national executive committee. She also worked as the party's propaganda secretary.

From 1993 to 1996, Myriam Spiteri Debono was the president of the Malta Labour Party's women's section. This shows her dedication to helping women in politics.

Becoming Speaker of the House

In September 1996, something very important happened. The Prime Minister, Alfred Sant, chose her to be Malta's Speaker of the House of Representatives. This was a historic moment because she was the first woman to ever hold this role in Malta! She served as Speaker until October 1998, when Anton Tabone took over.

In January 2023, she was considered for another important role. The Nationalist Party suggested her for the job of Standards Commissioner. However, she decided not to take the position. She felt it wasn't the right fit for her.

Myriam Spiteri Debono's Presidency

On March 21, 2024, news spread that she was likely to become the next President of the Republic of Malta. Just a week later, this was confirmed by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Election as President

Malta's House of Representatives voted on March 27, 2024. They all agreed to elect Myriam Spiteri Debono as Malta's 11th President. This election was special because it was the first time a president was chosen using new rules from 2020. These rules require two-thirds of the parliament's approval for the person nominated to be president.

Myriam Spiteri Debono is the third woman to become President of Malta. The other two were Agatha Barbara and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. She is also the third person from Gozo to hold this high office. The others were Anton Buttigieg and Ċensu Tabone.

She officially started her job as President on April 4, 2024.

A Modern President's Habits

When she became President, she shared something interesting about herself. She said she is a bit of a "technophobe." This means she doesn't really like or use a lot of modern technology. For example, she uses a flip phone! She also prefers to tell her assistant what to write for letters and other messages. She even lets her husband handle her emails.

Myriam Spiteri Debono's Personal Life

Myriam Spiteri Debono has lived most of her adult life in Birkirkara, Malta. She is married to Anthony Spiteri Debono, who is also a notary. They have three children named Elena, George, and Maria Kristina. Myriam Spiteri Debono and her husband are also proud grandparents to four grandchildren: Alexandra, Paul, Pippa, and Beppe.

Honours

National Honours

• Grand Master and Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit, Malta. She holds this honour because she is the President of Malta.
• Grand Master of the Xirka Ġieħ ir-Repubblika. She also holds this honour because she is the President of Malta.

See also

In Spanish: Myriam Spiteri Debono para niños