Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, who was prime minister during a turbulent period in Malta’s history, has passed away aged 89.
Born into a staunch nationalist family, his brother Antoine a Nationalist MP and his cousin Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici became President of Malta.
A lawyer by profession, he knew his own mind and moved to Labour of his own free will and conviction.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, Mifsud Bonnici was co-opted to Parliament after the resignation of Labour MP Paul Xuereb and appointed Minister of Labour and Social Services. In 1983 he was appointed deputy Prime Minister.
Mifsud Bonnici was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22 December, 1984, following the announcement of Dom Mintoff’s resignation on the same day in Parliament.
He remained Prime Minister until 1987 when Labour lost the general election and continued to lead the Labour Party until 1992 when after a second general election defeat he resigned and was succeeded by Alfred Sant.
