News • February 8 2004

Lawrence Gonzi

Born: 1 July, 1953 in Valletta
Status: Married to Catherine with three
children
Profession: Lawyer
Electoral base: Second district
Political career: Unsuccessfully contested 1987 election. In 1988 was elected Speaker of the House, a post occupied for two legislatures until 1996. Elected in Parliament in 1996, 1998 and 2003.
1996-1998 appointed Opposition Party Whip and shadow minister for Social policy
1997 elected secretary general of the Nationalist Party
1998 – 2003 Minister for Social Policy
1999 Designated Deputy Prime Minister
2003 Deputy Prime minister and Minister for Social Policy

Lawrence Gonzi’s roots in the Nationalist Party are not as deep as those of other contenders. A devout catholic, Gonzi had occupied the post of general president of the Malta Catholic Action for 10 years up to 1986 when he first contested for the PN.
He represents the conservative centre of the Nationalist Party and possibly the person ideologically closest to Eddie Fenech Adami.
It was the years spent as Speaker of the House that boosted Lawrence Gonzi’s stature. He reformed the way Parliament worked, also introducing committees to make the institution more efficient.
Popular perception is that Gonzi is weak in front of hard decisions. He has often been criticised internally for trying to appease unions. Gonzi’s conciliatory style and characteristic smile are probably the reasons for this perception.
Recently he has tried to shed that image by putting his foot down on the Drydocks issue, which everybody acknowledged required a final decision once and for all. The agreement to restructure the dockyard was eventually brokered last year, however, with the help of Austin Gatt and John Dalli.
Gonzi may count on the support of PN Secretary General Joe Saliba for his leadership bid. The Marsaskala lawyer is seen as the best option for a continuation in the Fenech Adami tradition. But despite enjoying the support of influential people in the party’s structure Gonzi has given little consideration to the grass roots and although he may enjoy wide support among party councillors he does not have the required 66 per cent majority to clinch the post with ease.