Claudio Grech (born 2 August 1974) is a Maltese politician with the Nationalist Party.

Biography

Grech's political career began within the private secretariat of former PN Minister Austin Gatt.[1] He was often referred to as Gatt's right-hand man,[2][3] and Gatt later testified that Grech was also in charge of his campaign in the run-up to the 2008 general elections, although Grech refuted this claim.[4]

Grech was appointed CEO of SmartCity Malta in 2008;[5] he resigned in 2009.[6] He was later appointed Chairman of Malta Information Technology Agency (MITA) and resigned in 2011 in the wake of allegations by the Labour opposition that his position granted him access to private citizens' data that was incompatible with his role within the Nationalist Party.[7] These claims led to an investigation by the Data Protection Commissioner, which found that Grech had no access to citizens' personal information.[8] Grech also served as CEO for Polidano Brothers,[9] a company owned by construction magnate Charles Polidano.[10]

Grech was first elected to the Maltese Parliament at the 2013 elections and again in 2017.[11] During his parliamentary career, he has served as the shadow minister for health, the family and the economy, and has come to be seen as the party's chief ideologue.[12] In 2021 he was appointed PN spokesperson for political renewal, research and development, and given the responsibility for drafting the party's electoral manifesto.[13]

Grech is considered a moderate voice within the Nationalist Party and has frequently been tipped as a potential leader for the party.[14] Grech is also known to hold socially conservative views and is believed to have been heavily involved in the Nationalist Party's campaign against the introduction of divorce at the 2011 referendum.[15][16] He is also known to hold anti-abortion views, having proposed amendments to the Child Protection Act which would include the foetus in the legal definition of a minor.[17] Grech's private Foundation has supported the Life Network Malta Foundation,[18] an anti-abortion organisation based in Malta.

Grech is believed to be Malta's wealthiest MP, with an analysis of his asset declarations finding that he held a net position of €841,954 in 2021.[19]

Grech, together with his wife, is the founder of the Save A Life Foundation, a voluntary organisation carrying out community work with children and youths. Grech is known to donate his entire parliamentary income to the Foundation.[20]

References

  1. ↑ "Opposition MP Claudio Grech awarded €4,000 in libel damages". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  2. ↑ Barry, Duncant (7 October 2015). "Austin Gatt's ex right-hand man tells PAC that he only met rogue oil trader George Farrugia once". The Malta Independent. Archived from the original on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "I am an action man | Claudio Grech". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  4. ↑ "Claudio Grech denies being in charge of Austin Gatt's campaign". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  5. ↑ "SmartCity board ratifies Claudio Grech's appointment at CEO". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  6. ↑ "SmartCity Malta Announces resignation of Claudio Grech". 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 2022-01-16. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "MITA chairman Claudio Grech resigns". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  8. ↑ "No privacy breach by MITA chairman, says commissioner". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  9. ↑ "Hazardous waste used as building material without necessary licence". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  10. ↑ "Charles Polidano, Iċ-Ċaqnu, interrogated for bodily harm, revenge porn claims". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  11. ↑ "Hon. Claudio Grech MP". Parliament of Malta. 2017-05-17. Archived from the original on 2022-01-16. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  12. ↑ "Claudio Grech, PN ideologue-in-chief, wants to bring common-sense politics back". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  13. ↑ "Updated | Bernard Grech caves in, most PN MPs hang on to shadow portfolios". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-17.
  14. ↑ "Claudio Grech, PN ideologue-in-chief, wants to bring common-sense politics back". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  15. ↑ "MITA chairman Claudio Grech resigns". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  16. ↑ "IT agency head denies any election ambitions". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  17. ↑ Watson, Gordon (2019-06-03). "PN MP asks for more protection of the unborn". Newsbook. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  18. ↑ "Nationalist MP's foundation finances social media upgrade for pro-life organisation". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  19. ↑ Bonnici, Julian (2021-11-21). "MPs Rich List Revealed: PN's Claudio Grech Is Malta's Wealthiest Lawmaker". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
  20. ↑ "MP Claudio Grech uses parliamentary income to finance community projects". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
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