OKAY, HERE’S THE STORY

Set the scene.

Dom Mintoff served as Prime Minister in the 1950s and again from 1971 to 1984. His long political career crossed several different chapters.

Here’s the twist.

Malta became a republic in December 1974 during his premiership. The British military base closed in March 1979, another distinct milestone.

Why it still matters.

These changes involved institutions and many people. A leader’s biography is one route into the period, not a substitute for its wider debates.

🧠 One to think about +

What does this story change about the way you see Malta today? Pick one detail you’d tell a friend — then check its source below.