Chris Fearne

The Honourable
Chris Fearne
MP
Chris Fearne (2017)
Deputy Prime Minister of Malta
Assumed office
17 July 2017
President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Preceded by Louis Grech
Minister of Health
Assumed office
28 April 2016
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Preceded by Konrad Mizzi
Parliamentary Secretary for Health
In office
1 April 2014 – April 28, 2016
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat
Preceded by Position Established
Succeeded by Position Abolished
Deputy Leader of the Labour Party
Parliamentary Affairs
Assumed office
15 July 2017
Preceded by Louis Grech
Member of Parliament
Assumed office
13 March 2013
Personal details
Born (1963-03-12) 12 March 1963
Attard, British Malta
Political party Labour Party
Spouse(s) Astrid
Children 3
Alma mater St Aloysius’ College

Christopher "Chris" Fearne (born 12 March 1963) is a Maltese physician and politician. He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health in April 2014 and Minister for Health since April 2016. In July 2017, the Labour Party elected him as Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs, thus assuming the role of Deputy Prime Minister of Malta and Leader of the House.

Career

Prior to his appointment as Parliamentary Secretary for Health in April 2014, he worked as a Consultant Paediatric Surgeon and Clinical Chairman at Mater Dei Hospital.[1] He is a Member of Parliament for the Labour Party and was the Chairman of the Foreign and European Affairs Committee at the Maltese House of Representatives.[1][2]

Fearne has been working as a doctor and surgeon for the last 27 years. He was also a lecturer in Paediatric Surgery at the University of Malta and an examiner at its Medical School. Fearne is a founding director of the Malta Institute for Medical Education and the chairperson of the Celebrities for Kids, voluntary NGO promoting children's rights. As a student, Hon. Fearne was involved in a number of youth organizations. He has served as Secretary General of the Maltese Federation of Youth Organisations, officer within the University Students’ Council, KSU, and in the Malta Medical Students' Association, MMSA.

Parliamentary Secretary for Health (2014–2016)

In April 2014, Chris Fearne has been appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health under the office of the Minister for Energy and Health Konrad Mizzi. This was the first position held by Chris Fearne as part of the Government of Malta.

Minister of Health (2016– )

As from 2016, Chris Fearne assumed the role of Ministry of Health.

Deputy Leader of the Labour Party (2017– )

On 15 July 2017, he was elected as the Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs of the Labour Party, succeeding Louis Grech.

Deputy Prime Minister of Malta (2017– )

Following his election as Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs, Chris Fearne was sworn in as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malta.

Controversies

Fearne was criticised by the local media on appointments at the Foundation for Medical Services. A party activist, Carmen Ciantar, was given a financial package of €104,000 on her appointment as FMS CEO. [3] The Foundation CEO is also known for her close relations to Fearne, being one of his personal electoral campaign managers. In fact, prior to the General Election, Ms Ciantar did not report to work at the Foundation for Medical Services. [4]

Education

Fearne received his formal education at St. Aloysius College and at the University of Malta, graduating in Medicine and Surgery in 1987, becoming a Fellow of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. He worked and studied in a number of children’s hospitals in England, including the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.

Family

Chris Fearne and his wife Astrid have 3 children and a dog.

References

  1. 1 2 "Updated - Parliamentary Secretary Chris Fearne to stop seeing Mater Dei patients, except for four acute cases". Times of Malta. 31 March 2014.
  2. ↑ Dalli Miriam (24 September 2013). "Private member's bill to criminalize female genital mutilation". Malta Today. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "PL activist is given twice her minister's pay as CEO". Times of Malta. 19 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "Foundation CEO 'vanishes' for two months to work on Fearne's campaigns". Times of Malta. 23 July 2017.


Political offices
Preceded by
Louis Grech		 Deputy Prime Minister of Malta
2017–		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Konrad Mizzi		 Minister of Health
2016–		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by
Louis Grech		 Deputy Leader of the Malta Labour Party
Parliamentary Affairs
2017–		 Succeeded by
Incumbent


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