Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi has passed away, aged 71.

The Gozitan MP served in politics at various levels, including as a member of the Victoria Local Council, as a Member of Parliament in several legislatures and as PN Whip.

He was elected to Parliament for the first time in the 1998 election.

He formed part of the parliamentary delegations to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA).

In a statement, the Nationalist Party expressed its condolences to Azzopardi’s family. Frederick Azzopardi will be remembered as a “great gentleman,” it said.

The Labour Party, in a statement, also paid tribute to Azzopardi who gave his services in particular to the island of Gozo.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Angu Farrugia, also expressed his condolences.