Robert Abela Biography: Net Worth, Position, Height, Age, Party, Family, Nationality

Robert Abela is a Maltese lawyer and politician who has served as Prime Minister since 2020, leading the Labour Party through economic, social, and diplomatic challenges.

Son of former President George Abela, he entered Parliament in 2017 after a legal career advising public entities and trade unions.

He rose quickly to challenge Joseph Muscat amid the Daphne Caruana Galizia murder scandal.

Profile

• Full Name: Robert Abela
• Stage Name: Robert Abela
• Born: 7, December 1977
• Age: 47 years old
• Birthplace: Sliema, Malta
• Nationality: Maltese
• Occupation: Lawyer and Politician
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: George Abela, and Margaret Abela
• Siblings: Marija Abela
• Spouse: Lydia Abela (m. 2008)
• Children: Giorgia Mae Abela
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1.5 million

Early Life and Education

Robert Abela was born on December 7, 1977, in Sliema, Malta. His father, George Abela, was Malta’s President from 2009 to 2014, and his mother, Margaret Abela, managed the family’s law firm after working in university administration.

He grew up with his sister Marija in the southern villages of Għaxaq and Marsaskala, where family life involved strong community ties and early exposure to public service.

He attended the Sisters’ School in Santa Luċija and St. Francis Primary School in Bormla, then completed secondary school and sixth form at St. Aloysius’ College, influenced by Jesuit values. He earned a law degree from the University of Malta in 2002.

Of Maltese ethnicity, his religious background aligns with the island’s predominant Roman Catholic tradition, though specifics are not publicly detailed.

Career

Robert Abela joined the family law firm after graduating in 2002, building a practice that advised trade unions, public entities like Enemalta and Transport Malta, and private clients, often navigating high-profile cases that honed his strategic acumen and drew early criticism for perceived conflicts of interest.

His political spark ignited through Labour Party involvement, serving as a local councillor in Marsascala before contesting Parliament in 2017, where he secured a seat in the sixth district on his first try and became legal adviser to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, attending cabinet meetings that immersed him in national decision-making.

This period marked his transition from courtroom advocate to party insider, emphasizing workers’ rights and social equity in opposition to the Nationalist government’s policies.

Abela’s ascent accelerated amid the 2019 political crisis following the Caruana Galizia assassination, positioning him as a reformist alternative to Muscat; he launched a leadership bid in December 2019, campaigning on transparency and family welfare, ultimately winning 58% of party votes against Chris Fearne to become Labour leader and Prime Minister on January 13, 2020.

Early challenges included reshuffling the cabinet to distance from scandal-tainted figures, steering Malta through COVID-19 with swift economic aid packages that preserved jobs and boosted GDP growth to 7.6% in 2021, while advancing judicial reforms like the 2020 Whistleblowers Act and constitutional tweaks for prosecutor independence.

His administration also prioritized cultural investments, such as the MUŻA museum opening, and navigated EU scrutiny on rule of law, all while securing a historic 55% mandate in the 2022 election.

Robert Abela guides Malta’s trajectory with initiatives like the 2026 budget’s tax cuts for families and enhanced child allowances, alongside commitments to restore heritage sites and combat climate impacts through green infrastructure.

His diplomatic efforts, including Malta’s 2024 EU Council presidency push for Ukraine aid and Middle East ceasefires, underscore a balanced foreign policy rooted in neutrality.

Abela’s blend of legal precision and populist touch continues to influence Labour’s dominance, fostering debates on migration and housing that shape the island’s social fabric for years ahead.

Social Media

• Facebook Handle: Robert Abela
• Twitter Handle: @RobertAbela_MT

Personal Life

Robert Abela married Lydia Zerafa, a fellow lawyer and Labour Party executive secretary, in 2008, their partnership a quiet anchor amid public scrutiny, with Lydia often joining him at state events and family outings that highlight their shared commitment to privacy.

The couple welcomed daughter Giorgia Mae shortly after his 2017 election, and Abela frequently references fatherhood as a grounding force, from school runs to weekend hikes in Gozo that recharge him after marathon sessions at Castille.

Net Worth

Robert Abela maintains an estimated net worth of $1.5 million, drawn largely from his parliamentary salary of around €63,000 annually, past legal consultancy fees exceeding €580,000 from public contracts, and property investments yielding hundreds of thousands in profits, such as a 2016 development deal.