Godfrey Farrugia

Godfrey Farrugia (born May 4, 1960, in Żebbuġ), is a Maltese politician, a family doctor, who currently serves as a member of the Maltese parliament. He formerly served as the Minister for Health and a Government Whip, of which he resigned from both posts partially for his lack of trust with the Labour Party in Government.

Godfrey Farrugia
Godfrey Farrugia in 2016
Leader of the Democratic Party
In office
October 13, 2018 – September 22, 2019
Preceded byAnthony Buttigieg
Succeeded byTimothy Alden
Member of Parliament
Assumed office
March 13, 2013
Minister of Health
In office
March 13, 2013 – March 29, 2014
Prime MinisterJoseph Muscat
Preceded byJoe Cassar
Succeeded byChris Fearne
Government Whip
In office
January 8, 2015 – April 29, 2017
Prime MinisterJoseph Muscat
Personal details
BornMay 4, 1960
Żebbuġ, Crown Colony of Malta
Political partyLabour Party (until 2017)
Democratic Party (2017–2019)
Independent (Since 2019)
Domestic partnerMarlene Farrugia
ProfessionPolitician, political leader, family doctor

Politics

Farrugia was elected to the Maltese Parliament in the 7th district in March 2013.[1] He was appointed Minister of Health by the President, on advice of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, on March 11, 2013, being sworn in March 13, 2013.[2] On March 29, 2014, Farrugia tendered his resignation from Minister.[3]

On January 8, 2015, Farrugia was appointed as a Government whip.[2] Whilst serving as Government whip, on April 13, 2016, following the appearance of Konrad Mizzi's name in the Panama Papers leaks,[4] he was of the opinion that he would have resigned if he was in the same situation.[5]

In November 2016, Farrugia spoke out against the controversial Mrieħel Towers development,[6] stating that they do not harmonise with the landscape and the skyline of the Maltese islands.[7]

On the December 4, 2016, he participated in walk to raise awareness of Violence against women organised by Dar Merħba Bik.[8]

Farrugia resigned as a Government whip on the April 29, 2017.[9] Farrugia, in a public message on Facebook addressed to the Prime Minister, said that the Labour Party should have not favoured the powerful few above the national interest.[10]

On May 13, 2017, Farrugia resigned from the Labour Party and announced his intention to contest the election on behalf of the newly founded Democratic Party and join it as a Member.[11]

On June 21, 2017, following a casual election for the 7th electoral district, Farrugia was elected when Beppe Fenech Adami gave up his seat for the district.[12]

On July 30, 2018, Farrugia received a death threat from someone who claimed to be a supporter of Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia.[13]

On September 23, 2018, Farrugia announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Democratic Party.[14] His nomination was seconded by Anthony Buttigieg and deputy leader Timothy Alden.[15]

On October 13, 2018, Godfrey Farrugia was appointed as the new leader of the Democratic Party.[16] Timothy Alden welcomed the news proclaiming Godfrey Farrugia to be Malta's very own Cincinnatus. Alden made this comparison because of what he said was Farrugia's track record of choosing to do the right thing instead of opting for power, as evidenced by his joining the Democratic Party.[17]

In late October 2018, Farrugia said that the Democratic Party is proposing to set up a new anti-organised crime commission. Farrugia stated that "It is imperative that Malta actively tackles organised crime. The reported collaboration between the Maltese underworld, Libyan militia and Sicilian mafia is of particular concern and must stop."[18]

On December 2, 2018, Farrugia said Economy Minister Chris Cardona had threatened him in parliament, although he did not raise a privilege complaint.[19]

On September 22, 2019, Farrugia resigned from the Democratic Party and stated that he and his wife would not contest another election.[20] He was succeeded by Timothy Alden who said he would not be quitting anything.[21]

Personal life

He is the partner of Marlene Farrugia, who is a member of parliament and the founder and former leader of the Democratic Party.[22] He is the owner of Palazzo Madonna Delle Grazie (Maltese: Il-Palazz tal-Madonna tal-Grazzji) in Zebbug, Malta.[23] The building dates back to around when Grand Master de Rohan elevated Zebbug from a village to a city. It is an architecture rich property, originally built as a country residence to be used for hunting, fruit cultivation and general leisure.[24] It is occasionally open to the public.[25]

References
  1. "General Elections 2013 – District 7". gov.mt. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  2. "Hon. Godfrey Farrugia MP – Government Whip". Parlament Ta' Malta. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  3. "Godfrey Farrugia, Franco Mercieca resign, 'not a clean bill of health' – Busuttil". The Malta Independent. March 2, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  4. "Konrad Mizzi named in ICIJ Panama Papers investigation exposing global array of crime, corruption – The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  5. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Godfrey Farrugia third PL exponent to suggest Konrad Mizzi should resign". Times of Malta. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  6. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Controversial Mrieħel towers given the go-ahead by the Planning Authority". Times of Malta. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  7. "PL Whip Godfrey Farrugia hits out at Mriehel high-rise development – The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  8. "Ritratti: Għexieren jingħaqdu f'mixja kontra l-vjolenza domestika". newsbook. Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  9. "Godfrey Farrugia resigns as Labour whip, says PL using people to protect its power". Malta Independent. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  10. "Here's The Full Resignation Letter Of Labour Whip Godfrey Farrugia". Retrieved May 1, 2017.
  11. "Watch: Godfrey Farrugia resigns from Labour Party, says it has 'lost its soul'; to contest with PD – The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  12. http://www.tvm.com.mt/en/news/video-godfrey-farrugia-elected-for-pn-on-seventh-district/
  13. "Updated: Godfrey Farrugia gets death threat, PN condemns incident – The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  14. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Interview: 'After one year, Labour had turned into a cult'". Times of Malta. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  15. "Godfrey Farrugia launches bid for PD Leader – Newsbook". Newsbook. September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  16. "Dr Godfrey Farrugia appointed Leader of Partit Demokratiku". www.facebook.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  17. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Malta's own Cincinnatus". Times of Malta. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  18. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Setting up of anti-organised crime commission being raised at highest levels". Times of Malta. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  19. Ltd, Allied Newspapers. "Watch: Godfrey Farrugia claims he was threatened in Parliament, Cardona rejects claim". Times of Malta. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
  20. Ltd, MediaToday Co. "Godfrey and Marlene Farrugia resign from Partit Demokratiku". MaltaToday. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  21. "'I am not quitting anything' - PD deputy leader". Times of Malta. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  22. "Marlene Farrugia does not exclude 'convergence of political life' with partner Godfrey Farrugia". The Malta Independent. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  23. https://web.archive.org/web/20190603180122/https://m.facebook.com/marlene.farrugia.5/posts/it-tabib-zebbugi-drgodfrey-farrugia-ghal-darb-ohra-jaghmel-l-istorjamembru-parla/1250654428393281/
  24. https://web.archive.org/save/http://www.belair.com.mt/property/zebbug/houses-of-character/023877
  25. https://web.archive.org/web/20190608185042/https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2252573311532018&id=100003381137829
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