14 Facts About Karmenu Vella

Karmenu Vella has been one of the longest serving Maltese Parliamentarian with the Maltese Labour Party.

Karmenu Vella was appointed Companion of the National Order of Merit of Malta in 2019.

Karmenu Vella lived in Zurrieq for 33 years from 1950 till 1983.

Karmenu Vella is a grandfather of two, Adam and Jack.

Karmenu Vella attended the Royal University of Malta where he was conferred with a Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies in 1970, and then graduated as an Architect and Civil Engineer in 1973.

Karmenu Vella has had a long and distinguished service in the Labour Party of Malta.

Karmenu Vella started with the Labour Party in 1968 as a member of the National Executive Committee of the Labour Youth Movement and later a member of the International Union of Socialist Youth.

In 1968, at the age of 18, Karmenu Vella was elected as the youngest member of the Zurrieq Civic Council and served as such until 1970.

Karmenu Vella was Minister for Public Works between 1981 and 1984, Minister for Industry from 1984 to 1987, Minister for Tourism between 1996 and 1998 and was again appointed as Tourism Minister in March 2013 until his nomination as EU Commissioner Designate in 2014.

In 2015 Karmenu Vella had launched the Pan-European Dialogue for Cruise Tourism.

In 2007 Karmenu Vella was the founding chairman of the Maltese Turkish Business Council.

Karmenu Vella has been very active in sports and cultural activities.

Karmenu Vella has been for a number of years the Honorary President for Birzebbugia Aquatic Sports Club, Honorary President for Zurrieq Bocci Club and Honorary President for Queen Victoria Band Club, Zurrieq.

Karmenu Vella was appointed Companion of the National Order of Merit in the 2019 Republic Day awards by President George Karmenu Vella, in recognition of his service to the country.