Marie Louise Coleiro Preca

Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
KUOM
9th President of Malta
Assumed office
4 April 2014
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Preceded by George Abela
Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity
In office
11 March 2013 – 29 March 2014
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Preceded by Chris Said (Justice, Public Dialogue, and Family)
Succeeded by Michael Farrugia
Personal details
Born (1958-12-07) 7 December 1958
Qormi, Malta
Political party Labour Party
Spouse(s) Edgar Preca
Children 1
Residence San Anton Palace
Alma mater University of Malta
Website Official website

Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, KUOM (born 7 December 1958) is a Maltese politician and the 9th President of Malta since her appointment on 4 April 2014. Previously, as a member of the Labour Party, she was a Member of Parliament in the Parliament of Malta from 1998 to 2014[1] and served as the Minister of the Family and Social Solidarity from 11 March 2013 to 29 March 2014.

Early life and career

Born in Qormi, Coleiro Preca studied at the University of Malta where she graduated with a BA in Legal and Humanistic Studies (International Studies) and a notary public diploma .[2]

Within the Labour Party, Coleiro Preca served as a member of the National Executive, the Assistant General Secretary, and as the General Secretary of the Party (1982-1991). She was the only woman to have served in such a senior post of a Maltese political party. In addition to these posts, Coleiro Preca was also a member of the National Bureau of Socialist Youths (now the Labour Youth Forum), President of the Women's Section of the Party (1996-2001), founding member of the Ġużè Ellul Mercer Foundation and publisher of the Party's weekly newspaper Il-Ħelsien (now defunct).[3]

She served as MP in the Maltese Parliament from 1998 to 2014. In the 2008 general election she was the first elected MP by the. As an Opposition MP Coleiro Preca served as Shadow Minister for Social Policy and as member of the Parliamentary Permanent Committee for Social Affairs beginning in 1998.[4]

After Alfred Sant resigned as Leader of the Labour Party in 2008, Coleiro Preca unsuccessfully contested the Leadership election.[5]

Presidency

Coleiro Preca, as President, signing books at the MCC in Valletta

On 1 March 2014, Coleiro Preca accepted the nomination for President. Succeeding George Abela, she was sworn in as President on 4 April 2014.[6] Coleiro Preca is the youngest person to assume the office of President, sworn in at the age of 55, and is the second woman to hold the post after Agatha Barbara.[7]

In 2014 Coleiro Preca announced the formation of The President's Foundation for the Wellbeing of Society, a non-profit consultative and research entity advising the President of Malta on initiatives to help improve social inclusion and standards of living.[8]

Honours

Honorary degrees

National honours

International honours

In September 2016, President Coleiro Preca received the 'Agent of Change' award, conferred by UN Women, in recognition of her work as a champion of gender equality and women's empowerment in the Mediterranean region. UN Women executive director Lakshmi Puri described Coleiro Preca as "a true champion for gender equality not just in Malta but in the Commonwealth".[12]

Hosting

Hosted Queen Elizabeth II at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2015.

References

  1. ↑ "PL motion calls for setting up of permanent committee for family affairs". Malta Independent. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  2. ↑ "Office of the President". Pfws.org.mt. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ Archived January 5, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "Marie Louise Coleiro Preca". Vassallomalta.com. 1958-12-07. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  6. ↑ "Marie Louise Coleiro Preca accepts nomination for President". MaltaToday. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  7. ↑ "Coleiro Preca to be named as President within days". Times of Malta. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  8. ↑ "President's Wellbeing Foundation". Times of Malta. Retrieved 17 Nov 2014.
  9. ↑ "Maltese President appointed Honorary Professor by the University of Warwick". University of Warwick. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  10. ↑ "Marie Louise Coleiro Preca sworn in as Malta's ninth President - The Malta Independent". Independent.com.mt. 2014-04-04. Retrieved 2016-02-28.
  11. ↑ Honorary awards
  12. ↑ http://www.timesofmalta.com/mobile/view/20160922/local/coleiro-preca-receives-un-award-for-inspiring-change.625722
Political offices
Preceded by
George Abela		 President of Malta
2014–present 		Incumbent
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