George Vella

Vella was born in Żejtun on 24 April 1942, where he finished his primary education. Vella graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in the Royal University of Malta in 1964 and became a qualified medical doctor. Between 1964 and 1966, Vella worked as a houseman in St. Luke's Hospital and soon after he applied and worked between 1966 and 1973 as a medical officer for Malta's drydocks. and they together have two daughters and a son, along with seven grandchildren. == Career ==

Labour Party Vella joined the Labour Party and started his parliamentary career in 1976. President of Malta In early 2019, Vella was speculated to become the next president of Malta. Vella was nominated for the position of the president of Malta by the governing Labour Party at the time including the opposition Nationalist Party. The Democratic Party announced their support for Vella's nomination, but would boycott the vote to protest in favour of a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the president. The vote in parliament took place on 2 April 2019, with the Members of Parliament voting to approve Vella's appointment as the only nominee. The appointment was followed by Vella's formal swearing-in as president on 4 April 2019, a date on which every previous Maltese President since 1989 was inaugurated. == Honours ==

National honours • Companion of the National Order of Merit (KOM) • : • Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars (1 February 2024) • : • Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Agatha • : • Honorary Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George • : • Grand Cross pro merito melitensi of the Order pro Merito Melitensi == See also ==