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| Partit Nazzjonalista |
| Nationalist Party |
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| Leader |
Lawrence GonziLawrence Gonzi is the incumbent Prime Minister of Malta. He is also the leader of the Nationalist Party . He became Prime Minister on 23 March 2004, following the resignation of Eddie Fenech Adami and reconfirmed in 10th March 2008 following another Nationalist victory at the polls on 8th March...
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| Founded |
1880 reorganised 1926 |
| Headquarters |
Id-Dar Ċentrali
Triq Herbert GanadoHerbert Ganado was a Maltese lawyer, president of Catholic Action, editor, politician and author.Born in tal-Furjana on 7 April 1906 on the island of Malta, Ganado studied at the Lyceum and University of Malta and graduated as a lawyer in 1931. He was active at university and shortly after became...
Pietàthumb|[[Michelangelo]]'s St Peter's Pieta.The Pietà is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus, most often found in sculpture. As such, it is a particular form of the Lamentation of Christ, a scene from the Passion of Christ found in cycles of the Life...
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| Political Ideology |
Christian DemocracyChristian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe, largely under the influence of Catholic social teaching, and it continues to be influential in Europe and Latin America, though in a number of countries...
,
ConservatismConservatism is the diverse political and social philosophy that supports tradition and the status quo, or that calls for a return to the values and society of an earlier age, the status quo ante. However, the term has been used by politicians and political commentators with a variety of meanings...
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and historically pro-Italian |
| International Affiliation |
International Democrat UnionThe International Democrat Union is a center-right international grouping of conservative, Christian-democratic and Liberal-conservative political parties....
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| European Affiliation |
European People's PartyThe European People's Party is a centre-right European political party. Founded in 1976, the EPP has 72 member-parties from 39 countries, 13 EU and 6 non-EU heads of government, 10 European Commissioners , and the largest group in the European Parliament with 265 members.-History:EPP traces its...
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| European Parliament Group |
European People's Party |
| Colours |
Blue Blue is a colour, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 440–490 nm. It is considered one of the additive primary colours. On the HSV Colour Wheel, the complement of blue is yellow; that is, a colour corresponding to an equal...
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| Seats in the European Parliament |
2 |
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| Website |
http://www.pn.org.mt/ |
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| See also |
Politics of MaltaThe politics of Malta take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Malta is the constitutional head of state with executive powers remaining with the Prime Minister of Malta who is the head of government and the cabinet...
Political parties
ElectionsMalta elects on a national level the executive -, legislature and 6 MEPs representing Malta in the European Parliament....
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The
Nationalist Party (PN,
MalteseMaltese is the national language of Malta, and a co-official language of the country alongside English,while also serving as an official language of the European Union, the only Semitic language so distinguished. Maltese is descended from Siculo-Arabic...
:
Partit Nazzjonalista) is one of two major contemporary political parties in MaltaMalta , officially the Republic of Malta , is a densely populated developed European country in the European Union. The Southern European island nation is an archipelago that includes the inhabited islands of Malta, Gozo and Comino, along with a number of smaller, uninhabited islands...
, along with the Labour Party. It was founded by Dr Fortunato MizziFortunato Mizzi was the founder of the Anti-Reform Party and also the one who started the process which eventually led to Malta's independence...
in 1880 as the Anti-Reform Party, opposing taxation decreed by the
BritishThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe. It is an island country, spanning an archipelago including Great Britain, the northeastern part of Ireland, and many small islands...
colonialA Crown colony was a type of colonial administration of the British Empire.Crown colonies were ruled by a governor appointed by the Crown...
authorities and measures to
AngliciseEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
the
educationEducation in its broadest sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character or physical ability of an individual...
al and the judicial systems. The presence of
ItalianItaly , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia. Italy shares its northern, Alpine boundary with France, Switzerland, Austria and Slovenia...
refugees from the Risorgimento gave the party a
liberalLiberalism is the belief in the importance of individual freedom. This belief is widely accepted today throughout the world, and was recognized as an important value by many philosophers throughout history...
constitutionalist character (which caused friction between Mizzi and the
ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. With more than a billion members, over half of all Christians and more than one-sixth of the world's population, the Catholic Church is a communion of the Western, or Latin Rite Church, and...
in the Party's early days) and a Pro-Italian stance which lasted until the Second World War.
History
In its early years the party was divided between abstentionists and anti-abstentionists. The abstentionists would immediately resign their post in the Council of Government immediately upon election as a protest against the token representation of the electorate on the Council; the anti-abstentionists favoured co-operation with the colonial authorities in order to work for a better
constitutionA constitution is a set of rules for government—often codified as a written document—that establishes principles of an autonomous political entity. In the case of countries, this term refers specifically to a national constitution defining the fundamental political principles, and establishing the...
.
Following the First World War a broader and more moderate coalition, the Maltese Political Union (UPM), was formed but a more radical and pro-Italian group, the Democratic Nationalist Party (PDN), split from the main party. The two groups contested the first legislative elections of 1921 but in separate constituencies so as not to damage each other's chances. However, after elections the UPM, which emerged as the largest Party in the Legislative Assembly, chose Labour as its coalition partner.
The parties again contested the 1924 elections separately although this time they did form a coalition, eventually merging in 1926 under the old name of Nationalist Party. It lost its first elections as a re-unified Party in 1927 to the "Compact", an electoral alliance between the Constitutional Party and Labour.
A constitutional crisis, resulting from a dispute between the Church and the
Constitutional Party (Malta)The Constitutional Party was a Maltese political party which had representatives in the Maltese Legislative Assembly and Council of Government between 1921 and 1945 and 1950 and 1953, forming a government between 1927 and 1930 with the support of the Labour Party. A splinter group, the Progressive...
, meant that elections were suspended in 1930. They were held again in 1932 when the Nationalists emerged victorious (21 seats out of 32). However, the Nationalists did not last long in government. The colonial authorities, concerned at the rise of
fascistFascism, , comprises a radical and authoritarian nationalist political ideology and a corporatist economic ideology developed in Italy. Fascists believe that nations and/or races are in perpetual conflict whereby only the strong can survive by being healthy, vital, and by asserting themselves in...
Italy in the Mediterranean and Africa, suspended the government and the constitution on the pretext that government's measures to strengthen instruction of Italian in schools violated the Constitution.
The Nationalists received what could have been their coup de grace during the War. Their association with Italy, the wartime enemy, antagonised them with the electorate and their leader, Dr
Enrico MizziEnrico Mizzi , popularly known as Nerik Mizzi, was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta. Mizzi was born in Valletta on 20 September 1885, son of...
(son of Fortunato) was first interned and then exiled to
UgandaThe Republic of Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by Tanzania...
during the War along with other prominent members of the
Maltese ItaliansPro-Italian Maltese are italophile Maltese. Historically, views ranged from cultural admiration to sympathy for Italian irredentist ideals and support for union with Italy...
community. The Party did not even contest the 1945 elections for the Council of Government which for the first time raised the Labour Party from
third-partyIn a two-party system of politics, the term third party is sometimes applied to a party other than the two dominant ones. While technically the term is limited to the third largest party or third oldest party, it is common, though innumerate, shorthand for any smaller party.For instance, in the...
status to that of a major party at the expense of the Constitutionals.
Notwithstanding, the Nationalist Party survived and in its first major electoral test, the legislative elections of 1947, it managed to stay ahead of various splinters that had formed from people who did not want to be associated with the main party. In the following elections 1950, a very damaging split occurred in the ranks of the governing Labour Party resulting in two parties: the
Malta Labour PartyThe Labour Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in Malta, along with the Nationalist Party. It is the party of opposition in the Maltese House of Representatives where it has thirty-four of the sixty-nine seats.- Party Structure :...
(MLP) and the Malta Workers' Party (MWP). This helped the Nationalists become the largest party in the Legislative Assembly and form a minority government which, though short-lived, re-established the Nationalist Party as a major political party. Dr
Enrico MizziEnrico Mizzi , popularly known as Nerik Mizzi, was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta. Mizzi was born in Valletta on 20 September 1885, son of...
was sworn in as Prime Minister, but unfortunately died after three months in December.
Two subsequent elections were held in 1951 and 1953 where the Nationalists formed short-lived coalitions with the Malta Workers Party (which, over the years, eventually disintegrated). The Party lost the 1955 elections to Labour and the following years it led the campaign against the Labour Government's proposal for Integration with Britain. Integration failed largely because Britain lost interest after the Suez fiasco and the constitution was again revoked in 1958 following massive disturbances over redundancies at the Malta Drydocks.
A new constitution was enacted in 1961. The Nationalists, led by Dr George Borg Olivier won the 1962 elections, fought largely over the issue of independence and having as a backdrop a second politico-religious crisis this time between the Church and the Labour Party. Independence was achieved in 1964 and the Party was returned to office in elections in 1966. It lost the 1971 elections by a narrow margin and lost again in 1976.
In the elections of 1981 the party, now led by Dr
Eddie Fenech AdamiEdward Fenech Adami was the Prime Minister of Malta from 1987 until 1996 and from 1998 until 2004; subsequently he was President of Malta from 2004 to 2009.- Early life :...
achieved an absolute majority of votes for the first time since 1933 but it did not gain a parliamentary majority owing to gerrymandering of the electoral districts, and so remained in the opposition. A crisis followed with the party MPs refusing to take their seats seeing they were kept out of office due to gerrymandering. Amendments to the constitution in 1987 meant that the party was voted into office that same year.
In 1990 the government formally applied to join the
European CommunityThe European Community is the first of the three pillars of the European Union created under the Maastricht Treaty . It is based upon the principle of supranationalism and has its origins in the European Economic Community, the predecessor of the European Union. If the Treaty of Lisbon comes into...
. A wide-raging programme of liberalisation and public investments meant the return to office with a larger majority in 1992. However, the party was defeated in the 1996 elections. The stint in opposition would last only 22 months as the government soon lost its one-seat majority. The party won the 1998 elections convincingly, a feat that was repeated in 2003 following the conclusions of accession negotiations with the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 Member States, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community...
in 2002. Malta joined the
European UnionThe European Union is an economic and political union of 27 Member States, located primarily in Europe. Committed to regional integration, the EU was established by the Treaty of Maastricht on 1 November 1993 upon the foundations of the pre-existing European Economic Community...
in 2004. The Nationalist Party won narrowly the general elections in 2008.
Since Independence in 1964, the Nationalist Party has democratically won the absolute majority of votes cast in five out of ten general elections, in 1981 (despite which they did not obtain a parliamentary majority), 1987, 1992, 1998 and 2003. In 1966 and 2008 it won with a relative majority.
Today
The Nationalist Party owns its own media company, Media.Link Communications, which includes
NET TelevisionNET Television is the television station owned by the Nationalist Party in Malta....
,
Radio 101Radio 101 may refer to:* Radio 101 * Radio 101 * Radio 101 , owned by the Arnoldo Mondadori Editore group* Radio 101...
, newspapers In-Nazzjon and Il-Mument, and the online newsportal
Maltarightnow.
The party presently holds 35 seats in the 69 member
House of RepresentativesThe politics of Malta take place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Malta is the constitutional head of state with executive powers remaining with the Prime Minister of Malta who is the head of government and the cabinet...
.
It is a member of the
European People's PartyThe European People's Party is a centre-right European political party. Founded in 1976, the EPP has 72 member-parties from 39 countries, 13 EU and 6 non-EU heads of government, 10 European Commissioners , and the largest group in the European Parliament with 265 members.-History:EPP traces its...
(EPP) and it returned its two incumbent MEPs,
Simon BusuttilSimon Busuttil is a Maltese politician and Member of the European Parliament. He is a member of the Nationalist Party, a member of the bureau of the European People's Party, and sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Budgetary Control and its Committee on Budgets.He is also a substitute...
and
David CasaDavid Casa is a Maltese politician and Member of the European Parliament. He is a member of the Nationalist Party, which is part of the European People's Party....
, in the
European Parliament electionThe European Parliament election of 2009 in Malta was the election of the delegation from Malta to the European Parliament in 2009. The elections were held on June 6 on the same day as the Maltese local council elections, 2009....
held in June 2009. Casa and Busuttil will sit with the EPP Group.
The party is led by Dr
Lawrence GonziLawrence Gonzi is the incumbent Prime Minister of Malta. He is also the leader of the Nationalist Party . He became Prime Minister on 23 March 2004, following the resignation of Eddie Fenech Adami and reconfirmed in 10th March 2008 following another Nationalist victory at the polls on 8th March...
, who was elected Leader on the 3rd March 2004. He was confirmed Leader of the Party on the 11th May 2008, after his victory at the polls held on the 8th March.
During the first years of the 21st Century, the Nationalist Party embarked on a massive project, that of rebuilding its headquarters in Pieta'. This project was realized on the 21st June 2008, when it was inaugurated by Dr
Lawrence GonziLawrence Gonzi is the incumbent Prime Minister of Malta. He is also the leader of the Nationalist Party . He became Prime Minister on 23 March 2004, following the resignation of Eddie Fenech Adami and reconfirmed in 10th March 2008 following another Nationalist victory at the polls on 8th March...
.
Past and current leaders
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- 1880-1905 Fortunato Mizzi
Fortunato Mizzi was the founder of the Anti-Reform Party and also the one who started the process which eventually led to Malta's independence...
- 1926-1942 Sir Ugo Pasquale Mifsud
Ugo Pasquale Mifsud son of was the third and fifth Prime Minister of Malta. He held office from 1924 to 1927 and from 1932 to 1933. He was a member of the Nationalist Party and the Maltese Italians community....
(Prime Minister: 1924-27, 1932-33) and Dr Enrico MizziEnrico Mizzi , popularly known as Nerik Mizzi, was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta. Mizzi was born in Valletta on 20 September 1885, son of...
- 1942-1944 Giorgio Borg Olivier
Giorgio Borg Olivier was twice Prime Minister of Malta as the Leader of the Nationalist Party. He was also Leader of the Opposition between 1955 and 1958 and again between 1971 and 1977. He resigned from Leader of the Nationalist Party in 1977 and was succeeded by Eddie Fenech Adami...
(acting)
- 1944-1950 Dr Enrico Mizzi
Enrico Mizzi , popularly known as Nerik Mizzi, was a Maltese politician, leader of the Nationalist Party and Prime Minister of Malta. Mizzi was born in Valletta on 20 September 1885, son of...
(Prime Minister: 1950)
- 1950-1977 Giorgio Borg Olivier
Giorgio Borg Olivier was twice Prime Minister of Malta as the Leader of the Nationalist Party. He was also Leader of the Opposition between 1955 and 1958 and again between 1971 and 1977. He resigned from Leader of the Nationalist Party in 1977 and was succeeded by Eddie Fenech Adami...
(Prime Minister: 1950-1955, 1962-1971)
- 1977-2004 Dr Eddie Fenech Adami
Edward Fenech Adami was the Prime Minister of Malta from 1987 until 1996 and from 1998 until 2004; subsequently he was President of Malta from 2004 to 2009.- Early life :...
(Prime Minister: 1987-1996, 1998-2004)
- 2004- Dr Lawrence Gonzi
Lawrence Gonzi is the incumbent Prime Minister of Malta. He is also the leader of the Nationalist Party . He became Prime Minister on 23 March 2004, following the resignation of Eddie Fenech Adami and reconfirmed in 10th March 2008 following another Nationalist victory at the polls on 8th March...
(Prime Minister: 2004-2008, 2008-)
External links