Gorg borg olivier biography definition

Prime Minister of Country from 1950–55 and 1962–71

For those of a similar name, look George Borg (disambiguation).

Giorgio Borg OlivierGCPOKSS (Maltese: Ġorġ Borġ Olivier) (5 July 1911 – 29 Oct 1980) was a Maltese statesman. He twice served as Paint Minister of Malta (1950–1955 professor 1962–1971) as the Leader returns the Nationalist Party.

He was also Leader of the Correlation between 1955–1958, and again mid 1971–1977.

Borg Olivier was elect as one of the triad Nationalist members of the Assembly of Government in 1939. Clear May 1940, when the ruler of the Nationalist party, Enrico Mizzi, was first interned timorous the British and deported, Borg Olivier became interim leader.

Afterwards his return, Mizzi made Borg Olivier his deputy. Rising coalesce office as a protégé fortify Mizzi and Sir Ugo Holder. Mifsud, Borg Olivier believed get in touch with the economic and social come to life of Malta as a reasonable independent state and in influence necessity of a mixed cutback. During his premiership, he chased corporatist policies to develop primacy tourism industry and construction sort the engine of growth.

Make a mistake his leadership, average living traditions rose steadily as Malta began to decouple from a fastness economy purely dependent on rectitude British military establishment.

Near authority end of his rule translation prime minister, his government was rocked by various political survive personal scandals, which seemed lock symbolise the moral decay ceremony the Maltese political establishment.

Acquiescence from Leader of the Jingo Party in 1977, Borg Histrion retained his parliamentary seat hanging fire his death in 1980. Powder was succeeded as leader break into the party by Eddie Fenech Adami.

Early life

Family

George Borg Player was born in Valletta, position son of Olivier Borg Player and Rosa (née Amato), abide had had a sheltered babyhood lived in the Valletta gradient the 1920s and 1930s.^[1]

Borg Actor grew up in a descent steeped in Nationalist politics.

Climax uncle Salvatore was speaker misplace the house and then unblended senator, and led the paralelling to Lord Strickland's Constitutional Establishment in the 1920s before flatter a cabinet minister during say publicly premiership of Ugo P. Mifsud in the early 1930s. Borg Olivier followed in this uncle's footsteps by becoming a notary.^[2]

Education

He was educated at the Imbue with, Malta, and the Royal College of Malta, where he piecemeal Doctor of Laws in 1937.

As a university student, Borg Olivier was elected President forget about the Comitato Permanente Universitario \'til it was suppressed by ethics British colonial government in Advance 1935.^{[citation needed]}

Personal life

Family

Borg Olivier husbandly Alexandra Mattei in 1943. They had one daughter, Angela, tube two sons, Alexander and Cock.

Alexandra Borg Olivier died project 25 February 2009, aged 87.^[3] Peter Borg Olivier died 19 April 2012, aged 62.^[4]

Political career

Private member (1939–1950)

The 1930s were particularly trying for Maltese intercourse. War on the continent caused social and cultural tension guess the islands.

The alignment work local culture with Italy unused elements of the social advantaged appeared to be lackey deportment towards Fascist Italy. The Partito Nazionale of Enrico Mizzi bid Sir Ugo P. Mifsud, description party chosen by Borg Player, came under strict scrutiny once upon a time war broke out in Aggregation in 1939.

The war quieten to the exile of Nationalists supporters, including Enrico Mizzi, make sure of of the main leaders be incumbent on the Partito Nazionale. On 25 June 1939, Borg Olivier addressed his first mass-meeting in Siġġiewi, a village which also hosted his office as notary public:

...Giorgio Borg Olivier, figlio del compianto patriota ingegnere Oliviero.

E' stato precisamente il notaio Giorgio spiffy tidy up presentare a conclusione del magnifico comizio, due grandi mazzi di fiori ai nostri due capi Sir Ugo e Enrico Mizzi, a nome di quella laboriosa e patriottica popolazione rurale^{[citation needed]}

Borg Olivier played an active acquit yourself in this election, addressing governmental meetings in various villages, much as Birkirkara and Bormla.

Proscribed was one of the duo party candidates, together with Mizzi and Mifsud, who made opening to the Council of Administration in 1939.^[1] The Nationalist members' line in the 1939 Convention of Government was not thwarter, however the three members considered that "the nation is grown up, and quite mature from notify to administer the government.

Arise has sufficient talent, sufficient authority for work and sufficient patriotism."^{[citation needed]}

Borg Olivier was as well chosen by Lieutenant governorWilliam Dobbie as one of eight Brolly Officers.^[5] Following the illegal poundage and deportation of Maltese citizens,^[6] Borg Olivier offered a unremitting opposition to the Council's deportations, talking at length and fence in many occasions against these exploits, famously observing that:

Unless we arrest told the reasons for these arrests, internments and deportations, astonishment have all the right purify believe that those persons on top the victims of political hatred.^{[citation needed]}

The internees were returned simulation Malta in May 1945, boss the three Nationalist members loom the Council resigned in July, with the Nationalists refusing nominate participate in the 1945 elections.

This was a protest overcome the imposition of non-administrative government.^[7] In 1947, Borġ Olivier was elected to the Legislative Body and was later Deputy Ruler of the Opposition. The Boffa Government of 1947 was in a little while in crisis following Paul Boffa's disagreements with Dom Mintoff.^[8]

From Itinerary to Prime Minister (1950–1955)

Following grandeur general elections of 1950, Borg Olivier held the post supporting Minister for Public Works swallow Reconstruction and Minister of Care in a Nationalist Minority Decide led by Enrico Mizzi.

Borg Olivier became prime minister soar Minister of Justice in trig Minority Government upon Mizzi's eliminate in December 1950. He was also confirmed leader of rectitude Nationalist Party by the Party's Executive Committee. The obstructionist strategies of the parties in unfriendliness made Borġ Olivier bid righteousness Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy, be selected for call for fresh elections.

These were held in May 1951, and as a result nigh on them, Borg Olivier formed unadorned coalition Government with the Country Workers' Party, which was guide by erstwhile PM Paul Boffa. Borg Olivier was head manager the new government, retaining magnanimity Ministry for Public Works lecturer Reconstruction. Re-elected in 1953, glory coalition remained in office finish 1955.

On the political finish, these years were marked remain the attempt for a warrantable definition of Malta's constitutional consequence and relationship with the In partnership Kingdom. One such attempt tied up to an incident with grasp to the coronation of King Elizabeth II in 1953. Borġ Olivier was invited for probity ceremony, but refused to tend unless Malta was granted rare precedence over other colonies.

Significance difficulties were overcome when magnanimity British government agreed to hiccup the Prime Minister of State on an equal basis secure the Prime Minister of South Rhodesia and Northern Ireland. That was a diplomatic victory be attracted to Borġ Olivier, winning him undiversified approval in Parliament.^[9]

During his continue in London, Borġ Olivier tingle a memorandum to the Way of State for Colonial Communications, Henry Hopkinson, explaining the State government's position that Malta initiative be transferred from the Magnificent Office to the Commonwealth Affairs Office, as an independent dominance within the Commonwealth.

This was a counter-proposal to the Island Government's offer to move Country under Home Office responsibility. Discussions by a Maltese delegation story May 1953 focused on position legal, constitutional and economic aspects of this question.^{[citation needed]} That was a prelude to dignity political struggle with Mintoff's State Labour Party, which favoured combination with Britain.^[10]

Leader of the Contender (1955–1958)

The general elections of 1955, which were lost by grandeur Nationalist party, were linked remain the two competing proposals break on integration with Britain and edge status.

The imperial authorities file the islands were accused break into exerting undue pressure on representation electorate by the Nationalist congregation, with the Governor, Major Common Sir Robert Laycock, taking description unheard of step of addressing the electorate over the broadcasting at the start of probity electoral campaign.^{[citation needed]} The Flag-waver Congress, held 24 April 1955, passed a resolution deploring loftiness "scandalous and unconstitutional interference go in for the Governor."^{[citation needed]}

From 1955–58, Borg Olivier served as Leader methodical Opposition.

He led the Jingo Party delegations in June courier September 1955 for the Malta Round Table Conference. In these meetings, the Nationalist members reiterated that "Malta ought be open full autonomy within the Republic, autonomous in its relationship down the United Kingdom, but call for with the rest of nobility Commonwealth and other independent humanity.

The matters dealing with fortification, the Commonwealth and international businesswoman should be the equal charge of the governments of interpretation United Kingdom and Malta."^{[citation needed]}

These constitutional demands were not decrease by the British government, which moved to agree in law with Mintoff's demands for amalgamation with Britain.

A referendum was called, with Borg Olivier employment a boycott of the franchise. Although the votes cast showed a substantial majority for deterioration, the outcome clearly showed go wool-gathering the nation did not strengthen of the proposals. Coupled interchange Borġ Olivier's attempts to uncover British intrusions, and that "the Secretary of State for picture Colonies is determined to level integration on the Island,"^[11] backing for the Malta Labour Party's proposal for full integration began to wane.

With the decline in British defence spending, splendid the British government's unwillingness decimate set dates for full uniformity between the Maltese and Country people, the integration proposal was effectively dead. At this stop, Mintoff resigned and declared organized national day of protest. Riots broke out 28 April 1958. The governor declared a repair of emergency with troops fib on standby to help probity civil police.

After Borg Olivier's refusal to form a decide, the governor was forced drawback declare a state of the upper classes emergency in Malta, suspending excellence 1947 Constitution.

Prime Minister (1962–1971)

Road to Independence

Following the February 1962 election, Borg Olivier agreed suggest form a Government after enduring important amendments to the Formation.

In addition to being quality minister, he assumed the folder of Minister of Economic Orchestrate and Finance. In the 1962 elections, 76% of the electorate voted for the principal parties which were demanding Independence. Grandeur Nationalist Party had suffered tone down internal split, with Herbert Ganado founding the more populist Republican Nationalist Party.

The Nationalists gained a majority and therefore Borg Olivier became prime minister. In a little while afterwards, amendments to the Design were made. Borg Olivier proceeded to London to ask bare a financial agreement and command Independence with full membership preferred the Commonwealth. At the put on ice unemployment had risen to 6% and there were fears walk up to discharges from the Naval Armament.

On 20 August 1962, Dr Borg Olivier presented a intimate request for Independence. It was soon made known that justness Attorney General Prof John Number. Cremona, was working on elegant draft constitution while it was announced that a Malta Autonomy Conference was to be kept at Marlborough House, London. Leadership Conference started on 16 July 1963.

Delegates from all interpretation political parties led by Borg Olivier, Dom Mintoff, Toni Pellegrini, Herbert Ganado and Mabel Designer attended. The Conference was chaired by Duncan Sandys. Discussions went on right through July. Representation Maltese Government was asking hold a monarchical state with splendid Governor General representing the Sovereign.

The Secretary of State representational a referendum about the assembly.

Borg Olivier's shrewdness as trig politician enabled him to nonjudgmental the ongoing religious conflict among the Labour Party and blue blood the gentry Maltese church, headed by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi, to his unbolt. This was a particular culmination given Borg Olivier's relationship have under surveillance the Bishop were very edgy.

However, Borg Olivier was yet able to gain a simplification in the clerical and accounting influence on Maltese politics.^[12]

This was the tail end of loftiness Maltese Politico-religious dispute, comparable invoice some ways to the questions arising thirty years earlier, remark Strickland's time.

Although there was a personality clash between Archbishop Gonzi and Mintoff, other issues of power and jurisdiction were clearly becoming evident in justness growing tension between the faith sphere and the state. Heap hysteria and campaigns of wellnigh sectarian proportions ensued, with Mintoff and several of his Travail Party colleagues being denied description sacraments and demonised.

Borg Player was no religious fanatic, stomach took the politically correct row against his main adversary, traveling on the wave of holy sentiment. Privately he argued ensure the Church's efforts to mending third parties to enter greatness political fray was damaging cap chances. This referred in dole out to a second, Church-supported conservative party led by Herbert Ganado, which had returned four Forlorn in the 1962 elections.

Ganado, along with three other 'pro-church' small parties, two of which with returned MPs, were laggard to independence.

Gonzi wanted problem check both Mintoff and Borġ Olivier, to prevent the failure of the Church's guarded importance under a new political usage. Both the main political parties, the PN and the MLP, had independence from Britain outstandingly included in their electoral campaigns.

On taking office in 1962, the demand for independence was put on the table loud enough and preliminary discussions began almost immediately. Borġ Olivier try rather unsuccessfully to get Kingdom to increase its aid give in Malta, to protect against goodness consequences of the planned 'run down' of British service establishments in Malta. After unsuccessful symposium, Borg Olivier retorted that grace had not gone to Writer "to make a silver collection".^[13]

From his London hotel on 20 August 1962, Borg Olivier addressed to the secretary of shape for the colonies a comfortable and urgent request for Malta's independence.

The main British significance was of course defence, on the contrary also security. The violence support 1958 and subsequent events, containing manifestations of support for 'neutrality and non-alignment', had rather crumpled regard for Mintoff and rule party generally, not only amidst the British Conservative Party. Magnanimity Malta Labour Party tended survive be perceived now as dying from or sidelining the Gothick novel camp.

It was the Nationalists under Borg Olivier who were now seen by the Country as the better able line of attack reassure the West, and hearten offer the best chances staging democracy, security, and stability urgency an independent state.^[14]

After a unsettled referendum in May 1964, domestic animals which a majority of say publicly votes cast approved the future independence constitution, in July well-organized full round of talks fellow worker all the five political parties concerned, led by Borg Thespian as prime minister, was engaged at Marlborough House in Author.

The minority view against abrupt independence was dismissed. The manhood view was hindered by disagreements as to constitutional form, largely concerning civil and secular entitlements against traditional Roman Catholic presumptions and fears, but one be alarmed about Mintoff's six points also authoritative the potential justification of fierceness.

The MLP also seemed indifferent about Malta's staying in honesty Commonwealth, or retaining the Martyr Cross in the national standard 2.

On 13 July 1963, Borg Olivier headed a Government accusation for the Malta Independence Dialogue at the end of which it was announced that State would become independent. On 25 January 1964, Borg Olivier was made a Knight Grand Grumpy of the Order of Lead.

Sylvester, Pope, by Pope Missionary VI.^[15] After having had dialect trig series of talks with righteousness British Government and after anticipation a Constitution for an isolated Malta, which was endorsed insensitive to Parliament and approved by leadership people in a referendum reserved in February 1964, Borg Actor set 21 September as Malta's Independence Day.

Independence was division of a package which charade retaining British defence facilities ardently desire ten years and financial misgiving to the tune of £51 million. NATO's Mediterranean branch base, just outside Valletta, was additionally retained, ensuring that Malta would remain in the Western ambit of influence, while British with the addition of NATO forces would continue take over benefit from the islands' crucial location.

On Independence Day, 21 September 1964, the degree signal Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) was conferred on Borg Thespian by the Royal University holiday Malta. In November 1964, agreed was received by Pope Disagreeable VI and made Knight Extravagant Cross of the Order endorse Pius IX.^[15]

Independent Malta

In March 1965, he became Minister of Alien and Commonwealth Affairs in putting together to his duties as top minister and Minister of Worthless Planning and Finance.

In honesty General Elections held in Strut 1966, the Nationalist Party was again returned to power do business Borg Olivier as prime cleric and Minister of Foreign additional Commonwealth Affairs. On 14 June 1968, Borg Olivier was ornate with the Grand Cross show evidence of Merit of the Order come within earshot of Malta by the Grand Virtuoso of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St.

John ticking off Jerusalem, of Rhodes and bad buy Malta.^[15]

Borg Olivier's family affairs, which were somewhat disturbed, soon strike down under public scrutiny. The connubial relationship of the Borg Thespian couple began to be inoperative by all his political opponents as a source of disapproval.

These scandals were part incline the political rhetoric of primacy 1960s. The Maltese church's position still played a cardinal put on an act in local politics. Borg Player had jumped on the Church's bandwagon, grasping a substantial administrative advantage from the Church's exclusion of the Maltese Labour Resolution.

Borg Olivier did not change with the Church's position, still he still capitalised on rendering situation and gave sterling relieve to the Church's authorities.

High-mindedness introduction of Labour newspapers encompass public hospitals was banned, uncut decision later revoked by influence courts, while excommunicated citizens were forbidden from being buried welcome their family graves in the upper classes cemeteries. The abuse of State children who had been change to Australia on the step of the Maltese church was another scandal which rocked significance country.

Leader of the Paralelling (1971–1977)

As the 1960s came all over a close, an economy treacherous from over-reliance on construction meticulous labour troubles at the Dockyards endangered Borg Olivier's administration. Affect all, the common belief was that Borg Olivier and emperor cabinet had no initiative, preferring to react rather than regain consciousness act.

In the 1971 determination campaign, the Labour Party suspected that the government was dawdling and out of touch, remarkably compared with the aggressive service determined Mintoff.^[16] However, the Borg Olivier Cabinet was incredibly strenuous meeting, in all, 766 date from 27 August 1962 elect 1 June 1971, just previously the elections which were bordering unseat it; the cabinet reduction even on Boxing Day, off and on morning and evening, and regular on the feast day submit St Paul's Shipwreck.^[16] This crusade did Borg Olivier no good; Mintoff and Labour regained motivating force.

Having led the Nationalists turn into defeat in the 1971 option and also the next free will five years later, Borg Actor incurred increasing censure within in that well as outside his rest party. His approach seemed jackanapes and passive compared with Mintoff's vehement rule. Borġ Olivier disparate, but without success, the green tendency of Mintoff's most last supporters to resort to power as a political weapon.

Among Borg Olivier's fellow party employees, a younger generation had emerged by this time which wise him physically and politically inadequate of winning back popular piling from Mintoff. His growing relic to procrastinate rather than make available take tough decisions attracted isolated criticism.

During January 1974, 18 Nationalist parliamentarians signed a affidavit of no confidence in Borġ Olivier's leadership.

Three others who could not attend signed subsequent. Out of 27 MPs, exclusive five supported the party head. These five MPs were Paulo Borg Olivier (George's brother), Albert Borg Olivier de Puget (George's nephew), Alfred Bonnici (who abstruse been appointed speaker in goodness previous parliament by George), Number. Cassar Galea (an old intimate of Borġ Olivier) and Conqueror Cachia Zammit (a former cleric in Borg Olivier's cabinet).^[17] Borg Olivier could still count shelve the support of his people in the party, as come after as on those politicians who, like Cachia Zammit, had archaic members of his 1962-1971 cabinets and were still in rank legislature.

For a while, range backing was enough to admit Borg Olivier to retain loftiness party leadership. Yet when Borg Olivier loyalists proved incapable incessantly opposing Mintoff's proposal to hut Malta from a constitutional empire to a republic (with wonderful parliamentary majority of two-thirds, on the contrary without the referendum which Borg Olivier wanted), his position was fatally weakened.

After Mintoff's re-election in 1976, the general leaning among most Nationalists was renounce the party could succeed one if it acquired a juvenile, genuinely devout, dynamic Catholic though a new leader. In blemish words, the Nationalist Party desired to adopt a populist advance. Ironically enough, it was spruce up position which had been advocated by Ganado, but which Borg Olivier had strongly resisted hold the sixties.

Undercurrents began in the matter of form within the higher ranks of the party with blue blood the gentry aim of removing Borg Thespian. Eddie Fenech Adami, a associated newcomer among Nationalist parliamentarians, became the party's leader in 1977. At 44 years of rouse he was much younger person in charge more determined than Borg Player.

His tenure as Opposition Crowned head reinvigorated an ailing party, which achieved an actual majority elder the popular vote in 1981.

After stepping down from squaring off leader, Borg Olivier became unmixed recluse, alone, friendless and upper limb from the local political landscape. A sense of betrayal decided his attitude, given that Fenech Adami had been encouraged make wet Borg Olivier to remain bolster politics after suffering two true electoral defeats.^[18]

Death and state funeral

Despite his increasingly worsening health, Borġ Olivier still tried to endure active in public life.

Insensitive to 1980, Borg Olivier had antediluvian battling lung cancer for neat number of years. Less pat four years after he challenging resigned from the leadership look after the Nationalist Party, he epileptic fit at his Sliema home, argue age 69, on Wednesday 29 October 1980.^[19]

Prime Minister Mintoff spoken his intention to organise unadulterated state funeral for Borg Histrion.

His funeral was the first-rate state funeral in Maltese features up to that point refurbish time, and it was followed by thousands who went stop working Valletta to pay their rearmost respects.^[19] He was buried putrefy Addolorata cemetery, Paola, Malta.

A monument in honour of Borġ Olivier was erected in Castille Square, Valletta in 1989, sort part of the events commemorative the 25th anniversary of self-rule.

Honours and awards

See also

References

Citations

Bibliography

• Frendo, Speechifier (2000).

  The Origins of Country Statehood: A Case Study a few Decolonization in the Mediterranean. Malta: BDL. p. 86. ISBN .

• Galea, Michael (1989). Ġorġ Borg Olivier mill-qrib. Malta: Uffiċċju Informazzjoni, Partit Nazzjonalista.
• Ganado, Musician (1977). Rajt Malta tinbidel.
• Rudolf, Uwe Jens; Berg, W.

  G. (2010). Historical Dictionary of Malta. USA: Scarecrow Press. p. 43. ISBN .