Ugo Mifsud Bonnici

Infobox President | name=Dr. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
order=5th President of the Republic of Malta


term_start=1994
term_end=1999
primeminister=Edward Fenech Adami
Alfred Sant
predecessor=Censu Tabone
successor=Guido de Marco
birth_date=birth date|1932|11|8|mf=y
birth_place=Cospicua, Malta
spouse=Gemma Mifsud Bonnici
party=
languagesspoken=Malta, English, Italian

Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (born 8 November 1932) was President of Malta from 1994 to 1999.

Early life, education, and family

He was born in Cospicua as the son of [http://www.maltagenealogy.com/libro%20d'Oro/mifsudbonici.html Professor Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici LL.D and married Maria Ross] . He was educated at the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta. He graduated as a Bachelor of Arts in 1952 and as a Doctor of Laws in 1955. As a lawyer, Dr Mifsud Bonnici practised in all the Law Courts of Malta. On 3 May 1959 he married Gemma née Bianco. They have three children: Carmelo, Anton and Jeanne-Pia.

Entry to politics

Following in his father's footsteps, he contested the General Elections in the interests of the Nationalist Party in 1966. He was elected from the 2nd District which comprised Cospicua, Vittoriosa, Senglea, Kalkara and Fgura. He has been re-elected in all subsequent General Elections. For fifteen years (1972-1987) he was the Nationalist Party's spokesman for Education. In 1977 he was also elected President of the Party's General and Administrative Councils.

Cabinet Member

In 1987 the Nationalist Party was elected to Government and Bonnici was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Education. [cite news | title=Defeated Malta leader has heart attack as new Cabinet is sworn in | first=Austin | last=Sammut | date=May 15, 1987 | work=The Times] His portfolio included Education, Environment, Broadcasting, Culture, Youth, Museums and Sport. In 1990 he became Minister of Education and the Interior. Following the 1992 elections Mifsud Bonnici was appointed Minister of Education and Human Resources.

As a Member of Parliament, Dr Mifsud Bonnici took an active interest in the updating of Malta's legislation. He was a member of numerous Select Committees including the Committee set up to draft the Constitutional changes that declared Malta a Republic.

As a Minister, Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici worked on the drafting of important legislation such as the "Education Act", the "Environment Act", the "National Archives Act" and the "Occupational Health and Safety Promotion Act". He made a strong effort to improve the standards at public schools. [cite news | title=Malta 3; High Technology Bid | first=Godfrey | last=Grima | date=March 10, 1988 | work=The Financial Times]

President

He became President of Malta in 1994 and served until his term of office ended in 1999.

Writings

Notwithstanding his commitments, Dr Mifsud Bonnici is a prolific writer. His articles have appeared in various newspapers and some of them were published in two books: "Il-Linja t-Tajba - L-Aħjar Artikli ta' Dottor Ugo Mifsud Bonnici" and "Biex il-Futur Reġa' Beda". He also spent some years as editor of a literary magazine "Malta Letterarja".

Notes