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Francesco Masini (December 6, 1894 – July 9, 1962) was a lawyer and politician from the island of
Gozo
Gozo (, ), Maltese: ''Għawdex'' () and in antiquity known as Gaulos ( xpu, 𐤂𐤅𐤋, ; grc, Γαῦλος, Gaúlos), is an island in the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Republic of Malta. After t ...
, Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...
. In 1947, he founded the Gozo Party
The Gozo Party ( mt, Partit Għawdxi) was a political party in Malta
Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy ...
, and was elected to the Maltese Legislative Assembly together with two other party members.
Early life and family
Francesco Masini was born in Victoria, Gozo, on December 6, 1894, son of Dr. Giuseppe Masini and Francesca née Calleja. Educated first at the Gozo Seminary, then at the University of Malta, he graduated Doctor of Laws on December 17, 1919. Soon after graduating, he started serving at the Gozo Law Courts, becoming one of the just three lawyers practicing at the time. On July 11, 1926, Dr. Masini married Elena Grech, and had four children in all: Mary Rosaria (known as Rose), Joseph, Franco, and George.Foundation of the Gozo Party
Background
Following the chaos of theSecond World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, Gozo was left in a state of disorder and abandonment. According to Gozitans themselves who complained in newspapers, "the standard of living in the Gozitan villages is low and the rate of infant mortality is high."The Times of Malta, 21st April, 1947 Fear was growing among the Gozitan population that the new Self-Government Constitution which was to be given in 1947 was not going to be of benefit to Gozo, should no Gozitan members be elected.
Dr. Francesco Masini, being a prominent lawyer, was aware of these feelings, and the problems the Gozitan lower classes were having to face. He first teamed up with Dr. Anton Calleja, another lawyer, who in turn recruited Notary Joseph Cauchi, and legal prosecutors Joseph Cefai and Luigi Cutajar, as well as architect Carmelo Attard and hotelier Paul Portelli. On April 6, 1947, the Gozo Party was officially announced, and on June 28 of the same year, the first party gazette, ''Leħen Għawdex'' (Gozo's Voice) was published.
In the editorial of the Times of Malta
The ''Times of Malta'' is an English-language daily newspaper in Malta. Founded in 1935, by Lord and Lady Strickland and Lord Strickland's daughter Mabel, it is the oldest daily newspaper still in circulation in Malta. It has the widest circu ...
dated 21 April 1947, Mabel Strickland
Mabel Edeline Strickland, (8 January 1899 – 29 November 1988), was an Anglo- Maltese journalist, newspaper proprietor and politician.
Family and personal life
Strickland was the daughter of Sir Gerald Strickland, later the 4th Prime Ministe ...
said that "if the electorate of both Islands returns any one party to Power with only a narrow majority, it is understandable that Gozo is out to make its voice heard."
1947 Election and period in the Legislative Assembly
In his political manifesto, as well as his speeches, Masini and his party focused on three main principles: Gozo as the main reason for which the party was founded; collaboration with the authorities and parliament as long as Gozitan interests are safeguarded and; independence which reassured that the Gozo Party was not affiliated with any other political party. In the 1947 elections, held between October 25 and 27, the Gozo Party elected three of its members, Anton Calleja, Guzeppi Cefai, and Francesco Masini on the 8th District.''Francesco Masini: Founder of the Gozo Party'', Fr. Joseph Bezzina, (Gaulitana,1995) Masini was the second candidate to be declared winner on the 8th District, after incumbent Henry Jones, founder of the Jones Party. In Parliament, the Party's work reflected Masini's principles. The party pressured Prime MinisterPaul Boffa
Sir Paul Boffa, OBE (30 June 1890 – 6 July 1962) was a Maltese prime minister (1947–1950) who took office after self-rule was reinstated by the British colonial authority following the end of World War II.Leone Philharmonic Society, the National Festivities Committee, and the Gozo Public Library. He also headed a delegation that negotiated with the Bishop of Gozo (Joseph Pace) the donation of the statue of
A street in
St. Mary
Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother of ...
by the Leone Philharmonic Society to the Cathedral of Gozo.''Santa Marija: Hamsin Sena fil-Katidral'', Fr. Joseph Bezzina,(Gaulitana, 2006) He was also appointed as honorary member of the same club.
On April 14, 1961, Ordinance XI gave birth to the Gozo Civic Council. Masini served as a legal advisor till his death.
Legacy
A street in Victoria, Gozo
Victoria ( mt, Il-Belt Victoria, meaning "the city Victoria"), also known among the native Maltese as Rabat (which is the name of the old town centre) or by its title Città Victoria, is an administrative unit of Malta, the largest and most p ...
, as well as a meeting room in the Teatru Aurora (the Leone Band Club's headquarters) are dedicated to him. His daughter, Rose received the "Ġieħ il-Parroċċa tal-Katidral" (Gozo Cathedral Parish Award) on behalf of her late father.
In December 2012, a plaque was unveiled at Masini's family home in Victoria, now residence of his daughter, in a ceremony attended by the mayor and members of the Masini family.
References