Dr Lawrence Gonzi was appointed Prime Minister on 23 March 2004 having served as Speaker between 1988 and 1996, as Minister since September 1998 and Deputy Prime Minister since May 1999.

Dr Lawrence Gonzi was born in Valletta on 1st July 1953. He graduated Doctor of Laws at the University of Malta in 1975 and practised law between 1975 and 1988. He was chairman of a leading commercial company in the private sector between 1989 and 1997. Dr Gonzi has been actively involved in the voluntary and NGO sectors since 1976, particularly in the fields of disability and mental health. He occupied the position of General President of the Malta Catholic Action between 1976 and 1986.

Dr Gonzi was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in October 1988. In April 1992 he was unanimously re-elected Speaker for the Seventh Legislature (1992-1996).

Dr Gonzi successfully contested the October 1996 general election as well as those held in 1998 and 2003. He was appointed Opposition Party Whip, Secretary to the Parliamentary Group and Shadow Minister for Social Policy in 1996 and Minister for Social Policy and Leader of the House of Representatives in September 1998.

Having served as Secretary General of the Nationalist Party since February 1997, Dr Gonzi was elected Deputy Leader of the party in 1999. He was subsequently designated Deputy Prime Minister. Dr Gonzi held the positions of Minister for Social Policy, Leader of the House and Deputy Prime Minister until March 2004 when he was elected leader of the Nationalist Party and, subsequently, he was appointed Prime Minister.

Dr Lawrence Gonzi is married to Catherine née Callus and they have three children, David, Mikela and Paul.