Anthony Buttigieg
{{Short description|Maltese politician}}
{{about|the Democratic Party politician|the Maltese President and poet|Anton Buttigieg}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Anthony Buttigieg
| order = Leader of the Democratic Party
| term_start1 = 1 November 2017
| term_end1 = 13 October 2018
| predecessor1 = Marlene Farrugia
| successor1 = Godfrey Farrugia
| party = Democratic Party
| profession = Politician, Doctor
}}
Anthony Buttigieg (born 1962) is a Maltese politician, doctor and a former leader of the Democratic Party.
Early life
Anthony Buttigieg was born in Malta in 1962. He spent his childhood in England. He graduated in medicine from the University of Malta in 1987. He spent several years working at St. Luke's Hospital in the emergency department before moving to St. James Hospital where he worked as a senior medical officer. In 1999 Buttigieg led a medical mission to Albania during the Kosovo War. He is a founding member of the Democratic Party becoming a deputy leader upon its formation, and later a leader up till now.{{Cite web|url=http://pd.org.mt/index.php/executive/|title=Executive|website=pd.org.mt|access-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629130939/http://pd.org.mt/index.php/executive/|archive-date=29 June 2018|url-status=dead}}{{Update inline|date=March 2019}}
= Hobbies =
In his free time, Buttigieg enjoys painting and reading – a hobby which accrued him a library of some 2000 books. He also loves nature and growing vegetables in his own home garden patch.
Political career
As deputy leader of Partit Demokratiku, Dr. Buttigieg made clear he was against the "us vs them" mentality of Maltese tribal politics.{{Cite news|url=http://the-yuppie.com/features/yuppie-meets-anthony-buttigieg/|title=The Yuppie Meets Partit Demokratiku's Dr. Anthony Buttigieg! - The Yuppie|date=2017-05-29|work=The Yuppie|access-date=2018-09-26|language=en-US}}
Anthony Buttigieg was appointed leader of the Democratic Party on 1 November 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/81775/anthony_buttigieg_is_new_democratic_party_leader|title=Anthony Buttigieg is new Democratic Party leader|work=MaltaToday|access-date=29 June 2018}} He stated that fighting corruption would be a main priority, along with fighting for the environment.{{Cite news|url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/news-politics/new-pd-leader-anthony-buttigieg-says-anti-corruption-drive-is-main-priority|title=New PD Leader Anthony Buttigieg Says Fighting Corruption Is Main Priority|access-date=2018-09-26|language=en}}
Upon assuming the leadership, he explained in an interview that he wanted the Democratic Party to be a band of concerned citizens, and for Maltese politics to move beyond partisan cults of personality.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20171106/local/my-pd-doesnt-need-a-leader-with-an-ego-anthony-buttigieg.662225|title=My PD doesn't need a leader with an ego - Anthony Buttigieg|last=Ltd|first=Allied Newspapers|work=Times of Malta|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-GB}}
He led a delegation of the Democratic Party to Amsterdam, to participate in the congress of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party. The Democratic Party then acceded to ALDE.{{Cite news|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/82709/_partit_demokratiku_voted_in_as_full_alde_members|title=Partit Demokratiku voted in as full ALDE members|work=MaltaToday.com.mt|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en}}
Dr. Buttigieg spoke out against the government's economic model, making the rich richer and failing to distribute wealth beyond cronyism.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180225/opinion/economic-model-for-the-rich-anthony-buttigieg.671645|title=Economic model for the rich - Anthony Buttigieg|last=Ltd|first=Allied Newspapers|work=Times of Malta|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-GB}}
He wrote to the EU Commissioner for Competition, Margrethe Vestager, to investigate ENEMED's 'fuel supply monopoly'.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-03-03/local-news/Partit-Demokratiku-Leader-asks-EU-Commissioner-to-investigate-Enemed-s-fuel-supply-monopoly-6736185596|title=Partit Demokratiku leader asks EU Commissioner to investigate Enemed's 'fuel supply monopoly' - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt|access-date=2018-09-26}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/blogs/85398/the_petrol_importation_monopoly|title=The petrol importation monopoly|work=MaltaToday.com.mt|access-date=2018-09-26|language=en}}
Along with deputy leader Timothy Alden he met with representatives of Maltese NGOs, including Din l-Art Ħelwa and Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar to pledge support to the Wirtna declaration.{{Cite news|url=https://kamratalperiti.org/pr-06-18-our-legacy-wirtna-meeting-with-partit-demokratiku/|title=PR 06/18 {{!}} Our Legacy / Wirtna – Meeting with Partit Demokratiku|date=2018-06-04|work=Kamra tal-Periti|access-date=2018-09-26|language=en-US}}
When the rule of law delegation came to visit Malta, he led a Democratic Party delegation to meet them. In the meeting, the Party said that clientelism in Malta was a major problem, and the Vitals Global Healthcare deal was discussed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-06-01/local-news/Watch-PN-MPs-meet-rule-of-law-delegation-speak-of-reputational-risk-6736190883|title=Updated (4): Discussions focus on all matters relevant to rule of law – Ana Gomes - The Malta Independent|website=www.independent.com.mt|access-date=2018-09-26}}
He has also argued for a more inclusive national identity.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180708/opinion/are-we-still-truly-maltese-anthony-buttigieg.683824|title=Are we still truly Maltese? - Anthony Buttigieg|last=Ltd|first=Allied Newspapers|work=Times of Malta|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-GB}}
Deciding to prioritise the upcoming European Parliament election, 2019, while balancing his other personal responsibilities, and believing it to be in the interests of the Democratic Party, Dr. Buttigieg announced that he would be stepping down from the leadership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20180915/local/pd-leader-to-step-down-to-contest-mep-election.689204|title=PD leader to step down to contest MEP election|last=Ltd|first=Allied Newspapers|work=Times of Malta|access-date=2018-09-26|language=en-GB}}