VALLETTA, (Reuters) – Dom Mintoff, Malta’s former socialist prime minister and dominant political force for more than half a century, died at his residence near Valletta on Monday, the government said. He was 96.
Mintoff, known for his confrontational style and fiery speeches, oversaw the closure of Britain’s military base on the island in 1979 – ending the 200-year-old military link.
The current leader of the labour party Joseph Muscat said on Monday all Maltese had been orphaned by Mintoff’s death.
Mintoff was prime minister between 1956 and 1958 and between 1971 and 1984, when he handed over the reins to his picked successor Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.
He was a member of parliament for more than 50 years and held sway over Malta’s political scene before and after its independence from Britain.
The son of British Royal Navy cook went on to marry a Briton. But politically, he looked east and at one stage formed strong bonds with Communist China.
