The Honourable Carmelo Abela MP |
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Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade Promotion | |
Assumed office 9 June 2017 |
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Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
Preceded by | George Vella |
Minister for Home Affairs and National Security | |
In office 9 December 2014 – 9 June 2017 |
|
Prime Minister | Joseph Muscat |
Preceded by | Emmanuel Mallia |
Succeeded by | Michael Farrugia |
Personal details | |
Born |
Malta |
10 February 1972
Political party | Labour Party |
Spouse(s) | Melanie Bugeja |
Children | 2 |
Carmelo Abela (born 10 February 1972) is a Maltese politician and is serving as an incumbent Labour MP and was the Minister for Home Affairs and National Security. He also served as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta. On June 8, 2017, he was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion.
Carmelo Abela was born on 10 February 1972 in Malta.
He won his first general election in 1996, when he was named to the 8th Parliament of Malta. He has since won all the following parliamentary elections, in 1998, 2003, 2008, and 2013. He was elected Deputy Speaker of the Tenth Parliament on March 6, 2003, and re-appointed on October 5, 2008, resigning as speaker on July 5, 2010.
He has served as Government Whip in the Malta Legislature.
In December 2014, he became Minister for Home Affairs and National Security. As Home Affairs Minister, in January 2017 he stated that the government had “no plans” to extend Maltese citizenship to children born in Malta with migrant parents. Prior to 2001, all children born in Malta were entitled to citizenship, with the law changed to apply to only those born before 1989 in 2001. On June 8, 2017, he was elected Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Promotion.
He and his wife Melanie have two children.