Michelle Muscat

Michelle Muscat met Joseph Muscat in 1995, at a "Labour Youth Forum activity". The couple married in 2001, and have twin children born in 2007.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2008-06-28 |title=Meet Michelle Muscat |url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/article/meet-michelle-muscat.214488 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}} Her mother died in 2015;{{Cite web |last=Barry |first=Duncan |date=2015-09-20 |title=Funeral Mass of Michelle Muscat’s mother held at Ta’ Giezu church in Rabat |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-09-20/local-news/Funeral-Mass-of-Michelle-Muscat-s-mother-held-at-Ta-Giezu-church-in-Rabat-6736142338 |website=The Malta Independent}} her father died in 2020.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-04-13 |title=Michelle Muscat's father dies |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/michelle-muscats-father-dies.785393 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

Prior to her husband's term as Prime Minister, she worked as personal assistant to Alfred Sant and as a secretary to a Labour minister.

In 2018, she described herself as "passionate about social democratic values".{{Cite web |last=Diacono |first=Tim |date=2018-08-03 |title=Michelle Muscat: ‘I Am More Socialist Than My Husband’ |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/michelle-muscat-i-am-more-socialist-than-my-husband/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en-GB}} Muscat was a campaigner for Robert Abela in 2019.{{Cite web |title=Michelle Muscat actively campaigned for Robert Abela to win Labour leader election |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/99987/michelle_muscat_actively_campaigned_for_robert_abela_to_win_labour_leader_election |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}

In 2017, as part of the reaction to the Panama Papers, she was alleged to be involved in Panama-based letterbox companies in a network of political-business connections of her husband.{{Cite news |date=2018-03-22 |title=Maria Efimova: Russische Whistleblowerin stellt sich griechischen Behörden |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/maria-efimova-russische-whistleblowerin-stellt-sich-griechischen-behoerden-a-1199353.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}}{{Cite web |date=2018-03-24 |title=Wer war Daphne Caruana Galizia? |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wer-war-daphne-caruana-galizia-485300625518 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Tages-Anzeiger |language=de}}{{Cite web |title=US$400,000 “loan payment” to Michelle Muscat jewellery business partner from sister of Pilatus Bank owner {{!}} Daphne Caruana Galizia |url=https://daphnecaruanagalizia.com/2017/04/us400000-loan-payment-michelle-muscat-jewellery-business-partner-sister-pilatus-bank-owner/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |language=en-GB}} After Muscat's election in 2013, employees of Brian Tonna created the letterbox company Egrant Inc. in Panama. In April 2017, journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia suggested that shares in Egrant Inc. were held by Mossack Fonseca nominees for Michelle Muscat.{{Cite web |date=2017-05-04 |title=Maltese prime minister summoned by Panama Papers committee |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/maltese-prime-minister-summoned-by-panama-papers-committee/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=POLITICO |language=en-GB}} In December 2019, an inquiry was published, which investigated if the Panama company Egrant Inc. was owned by the prime minister, his wife or his family. The investigation found no evidence to support the claim made by Caruana Galizia.{{Cite web |last=Farrugia |first=Claire |date=2019-12-18 |title='This is hilarious': what Michelle Muscat told Egrant inquiry |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/this-is-hilarious-what-michelle-muscat-told-egrant-inquiry.758074 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

As of 2023, Muscat leads The Marigold Foundation – BOV in the Community, often shortened to the Marigold Foundation. The foundation, established in 2014 by the Bank of Valletta, is a distributor of donations to other non-profits.{{Cite web |last=Borg |first=Mario |date=2023-05-25 |title=47% Of Michelle Muscat's Marigold Foundation's Donations Went To Events And Advertising |url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/47-of-michelle-muscats-marigold-foundations-donations-went-to-events-and-advertising/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Lovin Malta |language=en-GB}} In 2019, Muscat took over the Foundation after several years of serving as its chairperson.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2016-09-25 |title=Michelle Muscat's various philanthropic commitments in New York |url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/michelle-muscats-various-philanthropic-commitments-in-new-york/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=TVM |language=en-GB}} As part of her work with the Foundation, she has held an annual long-distance charity swim.{{Cite web |date=2015-06-04 |title=Prime Minister's wife Michelle Muscat to swim between Gozo and Malta to raise funds |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2015-06-04/local-news/Prime-Minister-s-wife-Michelle-Muscat-to-swim-between-Gozo-and-Malta-to-raise-funds-6736136744 |website=The Malta Independent}}{{Cite web |last=Ganado |first=Philip Leone |date=2019-07-16 |title=Michelle Muscat on her charity swim: ‘Stop stirring controversy’ |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/michelle-muscat-on-her-charity-swim-stop-stirring-controversy.722350 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

Her time as leader has drawn criticism from some media outlets, who suggest she has misappropriated foundation funds.{{Cite web |last=Cassar |first=Kevin |date=2024-01-02 |title=Michelle's pleasure |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/opinion-michelle-pleasure.1075929 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

In the earl 2010s, Muscat was appointed a patron of Eurodris – the EU Alliance for Rare Diseases. She continued to be a patron until at least 2024.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2024-02-21 |title=Michelle Muscat reappointed anew as a Patron of the EU Alliance for Rare Diseases |url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/michelle-muscat-reappointed-anew-as-a-patron-of-the-eu-alliance-for-rare-diseases/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=TVM |language=en-GB}} In 2017, she was appointed an International Global Citizen Ambassador for Children’s Health and Disease Prevention by Global Citizen.{{Cite web |date=2017-09-22 |title=Michelle Muscat appointed International Ambassador for Children's Health |url=https://tvmnews.mt/en/news/michelle-muscat-appointed-international-ambassador-for-childrens-health/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=TVM |language=en-GB}}

Muscat has been an advocate for people with autism.{{Cite web |date=2016-04-02 |title=Michelle Muscat calls for compassion towards those affected by autism |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/63672/michelle_muscat_calls_for_compassion_towards_those_affected_by_autism |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Malta Today |language=en}} She attended the annual World Forum on Autism from 2013 to 2016. As of 2016, Muscat was the Honorary President of the Association of Parents of Autistic Children. She also has attended conferences held by Autism Speaks.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2014-10-02 |title=Michelle Muscat attends autism conference in New York |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/michelle-muscat-attends-autism-conference-in-new-york.538156 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

She has also advocated for breast cancer awareness and education.{{Cite web |date=2018-09-13 |title=Pink October campaign’s goal to create ‘one holistic voice, a united voice’ – Michelle Muscat |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2018-09-13/local-news/Pink-October-campaign-s-goal-to-create-one-holistic-voice-a-united-voice-Michelle-Muscat-6736196292 |website=The Malta Independent}}

• 2015: Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz mit Stern und Schulterband){{cite web |title=Prime Minister, Mrs Muscat honoured by Germany |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/prime-minister-mrs-muscat-honoured-by-germany.574707 |website=Times of Malta |date=30 June 2015 |language=en-gb}}
• 2017:
• National Volunteer of the year, Malta Council for Voluntary Work{{cite web |title=Updated: Michelle Muscat awarded 'National Volunteer of the Year' award |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-12-06/local-news/Michelle-Muscat-awarded-National-Volunteer-of-the-Year-award-6736182313 |website=The Malta Independent}}{{Cite web |last=Carabott |first=Sarah |date=2017-12-08 |title=‘Michelle Muscat's award is an insult to volunteers’ |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/michelle-muscat-is-not-a-volunteer-but-a-fundraiser.665151 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}
• Celebrating Women International award{{Cite web |date=2017-12-07 |title=Another honour for Michelle Muscat: this time from Celebrating Women International |url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-12-07/local-news/Another-honour-for-Michelle-Muscat-this-time-from-Celebrating-Women-International-6736182382 |website=The Malta Independent}}
• 2018: Order of Merit of the Italian Republic{{cite web |title=Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana |url=http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=348279 |website=www.quirinale.it}}
• 2019: Bupa Malta Award, GlobalCapital Health Insurance{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-02-01 |title=Michelle Muscat wins another NGO award |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/michelle-muscat-wins-another-ngo-award.700826 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}

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Category:1975 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from Rabat, Malta

Category:2019 Malta political crisis

Category:Grand Crosses with Star and Sash of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany