Edgar Preca is the husband of the 9th President of the Republic of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, and hence First Gentleman of Malta, making him the first person to hold the male title.
Edgar Preca | |
|---|---|
| First Gentleman of Malta | |
| In role 4 April 2014 – 4 April 2019 | |
| President | Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca |
| Preceded by | Margaret Abela (As First Lady) |
| Succeeded by | Miriam Vella (As First Lady) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Valletta |
| Nationality | Maltese |
| Spouse | |
| Residence | San Anton Palace |
Early life and career
editPreca worked at Air Malta for 34 years until he retired from work in 2012 to help his wife in her campaign for president.[1][2]
Personal life
editPreca met Marie-Louise in 2002 after they were introduced by a mutual friend at the General Workers' Union cafeteria in Valletta. Despite receiving her phone number, Preca later said he was too shy to call her and they would not speak again until four years later, 2006, when they bumped into each other at the same cafeteria. They began dating and married 18 months later.[1]
As First Gentleman
editPreca became First Gentleman in April 2014 when his wife assumed the office of president. Even though Marie Louise is the second woman to serve as president of Malta, Preca is the first male spouse of a Maltese president and thus the first to hold the title First Gentleman. Agatha Barbara, who was Malta's first female president from 1982 until 1987, was never married.
Upon becoming First Gentleman, Preca also became the chairman of the Malta Community Chest Fund, which is a charitable non-governmental institution aimed to help philanthropic institutions and individuals. He also visited other countries on behalf of the Maltese government, including a three-day visit to Algeria in January 2016.[3]
See also
editHonours
editForeign Honours
edit
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (10 January 2018)
Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (15 May 2018)
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Grand Cross pro Merito Melitensi of the Order pro Merito Melitensi (2015)
References
edit- ^ a b "Edgar Preca, the shy First Gentleman". Times of Malta. April 1, 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-09-03. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
- ^ "The President of Malta: Mr Edgar Preca". President of Malta. Archived from the original on 2019-04-05. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- ^ "Edgar Preca visits religious, sports facilities in Algiers". Algeria Press Service. January 20, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
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