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John Dalli (born 5 October 1948) is a Maltese politician who has served as Cabinet Minister in various governments since 1987. He is currently the Minister for Social Policy and a European Commissioner designate. At the national level, he is a member of the Nationalist Party (PN), and at the European level he is a member of the European People's Party (EPP)^[1][2].

[edit] Private sector

Qualified as an accountant, Dalli worked in the private sector in Malta and abroad, both in industry and as an independent consultant.

[edit] Maltese politics

Dalli was first elected to the House of Representatives of Malta in 1987 on behalf of the Nationalist Party and since then he has been re-elected in five successive elections: in 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2008. He has served as Parliamentary Secretary for Industry (1987–1990), Minister of Economic Affairs (1990–92), Minister of Finance (1992–1996, 1998–2004)^[3] and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion (2004).^[4] During his tenure at the Ministry of Finance (the longest in Maltese political history) Dalli is best remembered for his modernisation of the taxation system through the introduction of VAT in 1994 and again in 1998.

From 1987 to 2004, he served as co-chairman of the Libyan-Maltese Joint Commission.

In February 2004 Dalli contested the election for the leadership of the Nationalist Party but lost to Lawrence Gonzi who was appointed Prime Minister. In the new Cabinet Dalli was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Investment Promotion. However, he resigned after serving for only three months from April to July 2004, citing attacks by members of his own party following investigations into awards of contracts for medical equipment and airline ticketing.^[5]

Dalli remained a backbench MP. In 2007 the Prime Minister appointed Dalli as a personal consultant saying that accusations against Dalli had been disproven^[6].

Dalli was re-elected to the House of Representatives in the March 2008 general election and returned to the Cabinet as Minister for Social Policy. His portfolio includes health, employment and industrial relations. Joe Cassar and Mario Galea were appointed Parliamentary Secretaries for Health and for the Elderly and Community Care respectively to assist him^[7].

[edit] European Commissioner

Late in 2009 the Maltese Government nominated Dalli EU Commissioner designate for the second mandate of the Barroso Commission where he was offered the Health and Consumer Policy portfolio^[8].

[edit] References

v • d • e Gonzi Cabinet 2008-2013 Jason Azzopardi · Tonio Borg · Joe Cassar · Dolores Cristina · John Dalli · Mario de Marco · Giovanna Debono · Tonio Fenech · Mario Galea · Austin Gatt · Lawrence Gonzi · Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici · Clyde Puli · George Pullicino · Chris Said