PRIME MINISTERS OF - 6 ENRICO MIZZI 1885-1950

PROFILE Born in on 20 September 1885, to Fortunato and Maria Sofia née Folliero de Luna, Enrico Mizzi received his early education at the Gozo Seminary and the Flores College in Valletta. He continued his studies at the universities of Malta, Rome and Urbino, graduating in Law in 1911. On 26 June 1926, he married Bice née Vassallo and had a son. Since Mizzi was more attracted to politics and journalism, he barely worked in his profession as a lawyer. In May 1921, motivated by his Catholic and nationalist principles, he founded the Partito Democratico Nazionalista. At the age of 65, on 26 September 1950, he became the seventh , lasting just 85 days as he passed away on 20 December, making him the only Prime Minister of Malta, until today, to die in office. His state funeral, held on Friday, 22 December, drew massive crowds. The funeral mass was held at St John’s Co-Cathedral, followed by his internment at the Santa Marija Addolorata Cemetery at the West Division section U-C-1.

POLITICS Mizzi entered into politics in 1915 with a major victory as an electoral candidate for Gozo with the Comitato Patriottico. In the first meeting of the National Assembly on 25 February 1919, he was unanimously appointed Secretary. This Assembly met at the Circolo Giovane Malta of which he was both president and founder. He was elected member of the Legislative Assembly under the Partito Democratico Nazionalista (PDN) in 1921 and was elected in all consecutive elections, serving as Minister during various legislatures. Amongst the various portfolios entrusted to him, there were: Post, Industry and Commerce, Education, and Agriculture and Fisheries. Following the 1933 suspension of the Constitution, he was elected member of the Council of Government in 1936 and 1939. Mizzi was Leader of the Opposition between November 1947 and September 1950, eventually becoming Prime Minister and Minister of Justice.

OFFICE AND DUTIES Enrico Mizzi held various offices, including that of co-leader of the Nationalist Party (PN), together with Sir Ugo Mifsud, following the merger of the PDN with the Unione Politica Maltese in 1926. With Sir Ugo’s death in 1942, Mizzi took over sole leadership of the PN. He published the first ever official publication of the PDN’s Eco di Malta e Gozo, on 15 July 1921. Between 1926 and 1940, he was editor of the nationalist journal entitled Malta. Following the 1932 elections, he was part of the ministerial delegation for London to discuss granting Malta’s Dominion Status. Following his deportation to Uganda during WWII, he returned to Malta on 8 March 1945, resuming his public and political life as Leader of the PN, as well as member of the Council of Government.

OTHER INFORMATION During his political career, Mizzi endured some very difficult moments. In 1917, he was arrested by the colonial authorities and court-martialled with charges of sedition. He was sentenced to a one-year prison which later turned to a warning. In 1940, together with 42 other Maltese, he was interned and deported to Uganda until 1942. During his short timespan as Prime Minister, he was distinguished by his honesty and kindness. In 1964, a monument was inaugurated in his honour in St John’s Square in Valletta, while there are streets named after him in Mosta, Ta’ Xbiex/Gżira and Victoria.

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