Robert Abela facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Abela
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Official portrait, 2022
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| 14th Prime Minister of Malta | |
| Assumed office 13 January 2020 |
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| President | George Vella Myriam Spiteri Debono |
| Deputy | Chris Fearne Ian Borg |
| Preceded by | Joseph Muscat |
| 9th Leader of the Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 12 January 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Joseph Muscat |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office April 2022 |
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| Constituency | District 2 |
| In office June 2017 – March 2022 |
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| Constituency | District 6 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 December 1977 Sliema, Malta |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse |
Lydia Abela Zerafa
(m. 2008) |
| Children | 1 daughter |
| Relatives | George Abela (father) Margaret Abela (mother) Alison Zerafa Civelli (sister-in-law) |
| Alma mater | University of Malta |
Robert Abela (born 7 December 1977) is a Maltese lawyer and politician. He has been the Prime Minister of Malta and the leader of the Labour Party since January 2020.
Abela became prime minister after the former leader, Joseph Muscat, resigned. Before leading the country, Abela was elected to the Parliament of Malta in 2017. His father, George Abela, was also a well-known politician and served as the President of Malta.
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Early Life and Career
Robert Abela was born in Sliema, Malta. His father is George Abela, who was President of Malta from 2009 to 2014, and his mother is Margaret Abela. He grew up with his sister, Marija, in the towns of Għaxaq and Marsaskala. His mother worked at the University of Malta and later managed the family's law firm.
For his education, Robert went to the Sisters' School in Santa Luċija, St Francis Primary School in Bormla, and later attended St Aloysius' College.
As a young man, Abela was a talented football player and played as a goalkeeper for the national youth team. He also enjoyed bodybuilding and competed in national championships in the late 1990s.
Abela decided to follow in his father's footsteps by studying law at the University of Malta. This is where he met his wife, Lydia. After graduating in 2002, he began working at his family's law firm, Abela Advocates. He became an expert in laws related to jobs and industries.
Political Journey
Getting Started in Politics
Robert Abela's interest in politics began when his father, George Abela, was a leader in the Labour Party. In 1996, he helped the party during the general election. For many years, he worked behind the scenes, representing the party on TV shows and giving legal advice to the government.
In 2017, Abela pointed out a problem with a land deal in Qormi. He said that a piece of land was sold for much less than it was worth under the previous government.
Member of Parliament
In June 2017, at the age of 39, Abela was elected to the Parliament of Malta. It was his first time running for office. He represented the sixth district, which includes the towns of Siggiewi, Luqa, and Qormi.
While in Parliament, he also worked as a legal adviser to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. This important role allowed him to sit in on meetings with the country's top ministers. During this time, he was never a strong critic of Muscat. However, he later said that if he had been leader, he would have made changes in the government sooner.
Becoming Leader of the Labour Party
In late 2019, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat announced he would resign. This led to an election within the Labour Party to choose a new leader. At first, it seemed that Chris Fearne, the Deputy Prime Minister, would be the only candidate.
However, Robert Abela decided to run as well. He presented himself as a fresh choice for the party. His campaign focused on important issues for regular people, like affordable housing, free medicine for older adults, and better pay for workers. He promised to continue the work of the previous government while also making some changes.
Abela, who had not been a government minister before, was seen as a candidate who could bring stability and unity to the party. He won the support of many party members with his focus on traditional Labour Party values.
Prime Minister of Malta
On 12 January 2020, the Labour Party held its leadership election. Robert Abela won with 9,342 votes, defeating Chris Fearne. The next day, he was officially appointed the 14th Prime Minister of Malta. One of his first decisions was to appoint Clyde Caruana as his chief of staff.
During his time as prime minister, Abela has faced some challenges. In 2024, he was criticized for his comments about a legal case involving a former politician. He was also criticized for his government's approach to new building projects and their impact on local communities and the environment.
Personal Life
Robert Abela married Lydia Zerafa in 2008. She is also involved in politics and has served as a secretary in the Labour Party. They have one daughter, Giorgia Mae, who was born in 2012.
The family lives in Marsaskala and also owns a farmhouse in Xewkija, on the island of Gozo.
Honours
National honours
Malta: Companion of Honour of the National Order of Merit (2020) by right as a Prime Minister of Malta
See also
In Spanish: Robert Abela para niños
- List of members of the parliament of Malta, 2017–2022
