Growing up in dire circumstances, few at the time could have imagined that one young girl from an impoverish family would grow up to become the first woman elected to Maltese parliament. However, Agatha Barbara, who went on to become a Minister of Education and later President of the Republic, insisted she be sent to school despite it not being an enforced activity at the time.
Born in Zabbar on 11th March 1923, Agatha was the second of nine children and the oldest daughter in the family. Through her persistence, she was sent to grammar school but her venture to get into college was halted by the Second World War. During this time, she was active in the relief sector and worked as an air raid warden and a steward at the Victory Kitchen.
After the war ended in 1945, she took on the role of a teacher and became a member of the Malta Labour Party. She founded the Women’s Political Movement in Malta and despite much criticism from the Catholic Church, she contested the 1947 elections and was successful. Appointed as Education Minister in 1955, Agatha pushed for education reforms and made full-time schooling compulsory till the age of 14.
At the time, Malta was not a Republic, and the relationship between the Maltese and the British was deteriorating at an alarming pace, reaching a head in 1958. For her participation in the protests that ensued, Agatha was imprisoned for 43 days. Friends and family present that day remember the terrifying moment when police came knocking on her door to take her away.
Despite this brush with the law, Agatha’s political ventures continued to be successful. Indeed, she participated in elections a total of 10 times throughout her political career, (being re-assigned the education portfolio in 1971 and then becoming Minister for Labour, Culture and Welfare three years later) and was elected in all.
She resigned in 1982 to become the third President of Malta aged 59. Usually a ceremonial role, she was tasked with resolving the constitutional crisis of the time. She withdrew from politics following the end of her term in 1987 but her popularity didn’t wane: in fact a series of Maltese banknotes were printed with her face on them.
Never married, Agatha died on 4th February 2002 and a monument in her honour was erected in 2006 in her hometown of Zabbar.
Thank you for all you've done for Malta!