Paul Boffa - Malta's First Labour Prime Minister

MALTA’S REAWAKENING AFTER THE HORRORS AND HEROISMS OF WORLD WAR II …

The new Labour Government of the late 40’s, led by Prime Minister Paul Boffa, faced a momentous task. It needed to urgently help Malta recover from the horrendous experience of World War II during which the Island was the heaviest bombed place on earth. The three protagonists of that fateful period in modern Maltese history – Minister of Reconstruction Dom Mintoff, Paul Boffa, Prime Minister, and Arthur Colombo, Finance Minister – took part in historic talks with the UK Government on the future of the Maltese Islands.

Following a record breaking election victory Paul Boffa, at the helm since 1928, became Labour’s first Prime Minister in 1947. A greatly respected leader and politician, he was the driving force behind many social reforms including compulsory primary education, old-age pensions, the vote for women, the removal of voting plurality, and legal recognition of the Maltese Language.