Guido de Marco

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Guido de Marco Template:Post-nominals (22 July 1931 – 12 August 2010)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> was a Maltese politician, who served as the sixth president of Malta from 1999 to 2004. A noted statesman and lawmaker, de Marco also served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Justice, and Minister for Foreign Affairs.

He was elected President of the 45th session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1990, and Chairman of the Commonwealth Foundation in 2004.<ref>"Former President Of Malta Appointed Chairperson Of The Commonwealth Foundation" Template:Webarchive, The Commonwealth, 9 September 2004,</ref><ref>Commonwealth Foundation Template:Webarchive</ref> A renowned criminal lawyer, he defended some of the landmark cases in Malta during the 1980s. His sudden death in 2010 shocked the nation and prompted three days of national mourning and a state funeral.<ref>"State funeral on Monday - Three days of national mourning", Times of Malta, 12 August 2010.</ref>

Early life and family

Guido de Marco was born in Valletta to Emanuele and Giovanna (née Raniolo) de Marco. He was educated at St. Joseph High School, St. Aloysius' College and the University of Malta. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, Economics and Italian in 1952, becoming a Doctor of Laws in 1955.

De Marco and his future wife, Violet Saliba, met as students.<ref name=tofm>Template:Cite news</ref> He proposed to her on February 5, 1951, as he walked her home from Valletta to Pietà.<ref name=tofm/> De Marco and Violet Saliba married in 1956; the couple had three children: Giannella, Fiorella and Mario.<ref name=tofm/> Mario, who served as parliamentary secretary for tourism at the time of his father's death, said he was a family man who devoted time to his children and grandchildren.<ref name="Guido de Marco passes away: 'A person who worked for a better Malta' – Mario de Marco">Template:Cite news</ref>

Political career

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Letter of application for membership of the European Economic Community by Malta, 1990. Sent from the Maltese foreign affairs minister Guido de Marco to the Italian foreign affairs ministers Gianni De Michelis, at the time holding the rotating presidency of the EU Council. Held at the House of European History in Brussels

In 1962, de Marco resigned from his position at the Attorney General's Office, entering the political arena to later contest at the 1966 Maltese general election. The successful criminal lawyer would henceforth dedicate much of his life to the Nationalist and Maltese cause. He became a lecturer, and later a professor of criminal law at the University of Malta.

His political career began with his election to the House of Representatives in 1966. He was returned to Parliament at every general election he contested up to 1998. He was appointed secretary general of the Nationalist party in 1972 and became the party's deputy leader in 1977. He was elected as a representative at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe of 1967, remaining a member for almost twenty years. During his career as Minister for the Interior and Justice, De Marco's efforts led to the integration into domestic law of important international conventions, particularly the European Convention on Human Rights. As Minister for the Interior, he pioneered the reforms and modernisations in the Police Force, being instrumental in the founding of the Police Academy. Template:Citation needed

As Minister for Foreign Affairs he submitted Malta's application for membership of the European Communities.<ref name="Former Malta president de Marco dies at 79"/> It was one of his first acts as Minister for Foreign Affairs, occurring on 16 July 1990. He was a major player in the consolidation of Malta's contributions to international organisations, including the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1990 he also served as President of the United Nations General Assembly.<ref name="Former Malta president de Marco dies at 79"/>

Presidency

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Memorial for Guido de Marco in Valletta

On 4 April 1999, de Marco was appointed President of Malta. He led his country into the European Union in 2004.<ref name="Former Malta president de Marco dies at 79">Template:Cite news</ref>

He became an honorary doctor at St. Petersburg State University in 2004 "for achievements in science and politics, in particular, for his efforts to integrate Malta into the EU."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Declining health and death

On 5 August 2010, de Marco underwent an angioplasty to widen an obstructed heart artery. The intervention developed complications which led him to a critical, but stable condition. A series of medical bulletins were issued immediately by the medical team at Mater Dei Hospital, stating that De Marco was responding to treatment and showing signs of improvement. His condition continued to improve by the hour, to the extent of being taken off life-support machines. Five days later he was discharged from Mater Dei Hospital, but monitored closely by the medical team.

On 12 August 2010, de Marco gave an interview with Maltese newspaper Times of Malta, in which he said: "When I came round from the coma I no longer felt I was going to die. I felt I was going to remain. I'm here to stay... for now at least."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> de Marco collapsed at his home in Sliema shortly after conducting the interview at 3:30 p.m. and was rushed to Mater Dei Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.<ref name="Former Malta president de Marco dies at 79"/>

News of de Marco's death shocked the nation,<ref name="Malta mourns Guido de Marco, dead at 79 State Funeral to be held on Monday"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which was at the moment relieved with the previous improvement in his condition. The government declared three days of national mourning.<ref name="Malta mourns Guido de Marco, dead at 79 State Funeral to be held on Monday"/> A state funeral was held on Monday, August 16, 2010.<ref name="Malta mourns Guido de Marco, dead at 79 State Funeral to be held on Monday">Template:Cite news</ref>

Messages of solidarity and expressions of sorrow were issued immediately by the President of the Republic, the Nationalist Party, the Labour Party, as well as from other entities and the diplomatic corps. The Maltese prime minister Lawrence Gonzi, interrupted his vacation to return to the island. Gonzi declared that "Malta lost one of the most prominent politicians in recent times. He was fundamental for the country's independence, contributed to strengthening democracy, served very important roles in strengthening our country's international relations and occupied important roles in the United Nations. His Presidency has united the country."<ref name="Guido de Marco passes away: 'A person who worked for a better Malta' – Mario de Marco"/> Opposition leader Joseph Muscat called the death "a national loss."<ref name="Guido de Marco passes away: 'A person who worked for a better Malta' – Mario de Marco"/> Edward Fenech Adami, De Marco's successor as President of Malta, was said to be "shaken" by the news, hailing De Marco as "a protagonist in the past forty to fifty years of Maltese history."<ref name="Guido de Marco passes away: 'A person who worked for a better Malta' – Mario de Marco"/> Fenech Adami's successor, George Abela, President of Malta at the time of de Marco's death, added that "Academically, [Guido de Marco] definitely excelled," calling him a "jovial person...[who]...sang along throughout the recent Joseph Calleja concert."<ref name="Guido de Marco passes away: 'A person who worked for a better Malta' – Mario de Marco"/> Abela expressed his condolences personally to the De Marco family at Mater Dei Hospital.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

File:GraveGuidoDeMarco-AddolorataCemeteryPaolaMalta RomanDeckert28102022.jpg
The grave of de Marco at the Addolorata Cemetery in Paola.

Tributes flowed into Malta from abroad. President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek called him "a highly respected politician and statesman ... who was deeply respected all over Europe."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Former Libyan ambassador to Malta Saad Elshlmani said "On a personal level he was more than just a friend," adding that "people in the Middle East will remember him for his great attachment to the issues of tolerance, cooperation and friendship."<ref name="Prof de Marco 'more than just a friend' - former Libyan ambassador">Template:Cite news</ref> United States ambassador Douglas Kmiec also issued a statement: "His tenure as President of the United Nations General Assembly, and his skill and perseverance in guiding Malta to EU membership are great tributes to his statesmanship."<ref name="Prof de Marco 'more than just a friend' - former Libyan ambassador"/>

His funeral took place on 16 August 2010, attended by dignitaries, including Kuwaiti Prime Minister Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, the widow of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat, Suha Arafat, Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Vincenzo Scotti, and several ambassadors.<ref name="Kuwait remains grateful to Demarco = Dignitaries here to attend state funeral">Template:Cite news</ref>

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

References

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