Vella was born in Żejtun in 1942. He is married to Miriam. He has two daughters and a son, along with seven grandchildren. Vella qualified as a medical doctor in 1964, obtained a Certificate in Aviation Medicine from Farnborough, and was a specialist in family medicine.
Vella joined the Labour Party and started his parliamentary career in 1976. He was then elected member of parliament in January 1978, and during the 1981, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 general elections. As a Member of Parliament, he represents the 3rd and 5th Districts.
Serving abroad
In 1978, Vella was a substitute member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and rapporteur on maritime pollution from maritime sources at the Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. From January to May 1987, he served as Malta's permanent representative at the Council of Europe.
Deputy leader
In 1992, Vella was elected as the Labour Party deputy leader for parliamentary affairs and spokesperson on foreign affairs. He served as vice chairman on the Joint EU/Malta Parliamentary Committee. From 1995 to 1996, Vella was a member of the House Business Committee and the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Committee.
He was appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Environment in October 1996 and again in March 2013, serving to June 2017. Vella has voiced his support for the Campaign for the Establishment of a United Nations Parliamentary Assembly, an organisation which campaigns for democratic reformation of the United Nations, and the creation of a more accountable international political system.
President of Malta
Vella was nominated for the position of the President of Malta by the governing Labour Party at the time. His nomination was supported by both the government and opposition Nationalist Party. The Democratic Party announced their support for Vella's nomination, but would boycott the vote to protest in favour of a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority to elect the president.. The vote in parliament took place on 2 April 2019, with the Members of Parliament voting to approve Vella's appointment as the only nominee. The appointment was followed by Vella's formal swearing-in as president on 4 April 2019.
