| Honorific-Prefix: | His Excellency |
| George Vella | |
| Honorific-Suffix: | KUOM |
| Office: | 10th President of Malta |
| Term Start: | 4 April 2019 |
| Term End: | 4 April 2024 |
| Predecessor: | Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca |
| Successor: | Myriam Spiteri Debono |
| Office1: | Minister for Foreign Affairs |
| Primeminister1: | Joseph Muscat |
| Term Start1: | 13 March 2013 |
| Term End1: | 9 June 2017 |
| Predecessor1: | Francis Zammit Dimech |
| Successor1: | Carmelo Abela |
| Primeminister2: | Alfred Sant |
| Term Start2: | 28 October 1996 |
| Term End2: | 6 September 1998 |
| Predecessor2: | Guido de Marco |
| Successor2: | Guido de Marco |
| Office3: | Deputy Prime Minister of Malta |
| Primeminister3: | Alfred Sant |
| Term Start3: | 28 October 1996 |
| Term End3: | 6 September 1998 |
| Predecessor3: | Guido de Marco |
| Successor3: | Guido de Marco |
| Office4: | Deputy Leader of the Labour Party |
| Leader4: | Alfred Sant |
| Term Start4: | 26 March 1992 |
| Term End4: | 23 May 2003 |
| Predecessor4: | Joseph Brincat |
| Successor4: | Charles Mangion |
| Birth Date: | 24 April 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Żejtun, Crown Colony of Malta |
| Party: | Labour |
| Children: | 3 |
| Alma Mater: | University of Malta |
George William Vella (born 24 April 1942) is a Maltese politician who served as the 10th president of Malta from 2019 to 2024.[1] A member of the Labour Party, he previously served as deputy prime minister of Malta and foreign affairs minister from 1996 to 1998 under prime minister Alfred Sant. In 2013, he returned as foreign affairs minister, an office he held until 2017 under prime minister Joseph Muscat.[2] [3]
Vella was born in Żejtun on 24 April 1942, where he finished his primary education.[4] Vella graduated from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in the Royal University of Malta in 1964 and became a qualified medical doctor. He obtained a certificate in Aviation Medicine from Farnborough, UK and he has been a specialist in family medicine since 2003.[5] 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. After that, he served as the medical officer to Air Malta and as a consultant in Aviation Medicine.
He is married to Miriam[6] and they together have two daughters and a son, along with seven grandchildren.
Vella joined the Labour Party and started his parliamentary career in 1976. He was then elected member of parliament in January 1978, and during the 1981, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 general elections. As a member of Parliament, he represents the 3rd and 5th Districts.[2] [3]
In 1978, Vella was a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and rapporteur on maritime pollution from maritime sources at the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE). From January to May 1987, he served as Malta's permanent representative at the Council of Europe.[2]
In 1992, Vella was elected as the Labour Party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs and spokesperson on foreign affairs and served that role until 2003. He served as vice-chairman on the Joint EU/Malta Parliamentary Committee.[2] [3] From 1995 to 1996, Vella was a member of the House Business Committee and the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee.
He was appointed deputy prime minister and minister for foreign affairs and environment in October 1996[3] and again in March 2013, serving to June 2017.[2]
Vella has voiced his support for the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which campaigns for democratic reformation of the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system.[7]
In early 2019, Vella was speculated to become the next president of Malta.[8] Vella was nominated for the position of the president of Malta by the governing Labour Party at the time including the opposition Nationalist Party.[9] [10] 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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] [14]
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