Lino Spiteri, former Labour minister, passes away

Former Labour minister Lino Spiteri has passed away, aged 76, after a long battle with terminal illness.

Spiteri's last foray in politics was in 1998, having retired after resigning as finance minister from the Sant administration of 1996-1998. But he remained one of Malta's most prolific writers and political analysts, with his keen eye for detail and incisive dissection of politics never departing from him.

His early start in politics saw him elected to the House at 23, serving as a Labour MP for the next 21 years. He was a member of the Labour cabinet as finance and trade minister in the 1980s, having sparred at times with the blustering Dom Mintoff.

Deeply saddened by Lino Spiteri's passing away. A critical reference point whom I will sorely miss -JM

— Joseph Muscat (@JosephMuscat_JM) November 14, 2014

I express my sincere condolences to Lino Spiteri's family and friends during this difficult moment.

— Simon Busuttil (@SimonBusuttil) November 14, 2014

He was also a deputy governor for the Central Bank in the 1970s, witnessing the rapid industrial changes under the Mintoff government and the nationalisation of private banks.

After the resignation of Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici in 1992 as Opposition leader, he unsuccessfuly ran for Labour leader, being beaten to the post by Alfred Sant. By 1997, he had fallen out with Sant and took the momentous decision to step down as finance minister.

Shocked at the news of the passing away of Lino Spiteri. Few can pride themselves of changing the lives of so many for the better.

— Owen Bonnici (@OwenBonnici) November 14, 2014

Spiteri admitted that contesting the 1996 election when he disagreed with his party's pledge to remove VAT, was his gravest mistake. “When Dr Sant announced that the party would remove VAT he hadn't consulted anybody. He didn't consult me as shadow finance minister. When that happened in 1994 I should have immediately resigned, but I didn't."

Shocked at the news of the passing away of Lino Spiteri. Few can pride themselves of changing the lives of so many for the better.

— Owen Bonnici (@OwenBonnici) November 14, 2014

He resigned from the Cabinet in 1997.

Spiteri also said he had voted for EU membership.

In 2008, he was awarded Ġieħ ir-Repubblika and made Companion of the Order of Merit.

Tributes

The PN saluted the memory of Spiteri, thanking him for his contributionto Maltese politics. "His contribution was felt long after with his literature, and his political writings."

At a celebration of their 25th anniversary, the Institute for Maltese Journalists also paid tribute to Spiteri with a minute of silence.