Former President and former Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami turned 90 on Wednesday.

His son, Beppe Fenech Adami, posted a photo of his father holding a photo from of him speaking to a crowd during the referendum for Malta to join the European Union on Facebook along with the message congratulating his father.

In a statement, the Nationalist Party said that Opposition Leader Bernard Grech visited Eddie Fenech Adami at his Birkirkara residence. He thanked Fenech Adami for the way he, despite all the challenges faced, continued looking forward to change the country for the better, the party said. "Eddie Fenech Adami had a political career spanning more than 50 years and remains known as the father of Malta in Europe after leading the country to joining to European Union."

A lawyer by profession, Eddie Fenech Adami began leading the Nationalist Party in 1988. In the 1981 election, the Nationalist Party, under his leadership, had won the majority of votes, but did not get the majority of seats in Parliament, so was unable to form a government.

The PN was elected to government in the 1987 election.

Later, Fenech Adami had initiated the process for Malta to join the European Union. The PN lost the election in 1996, but then won an election in 1988 where Malta's EU application was reactivated. A referendum was held in 2003, which he also won. He stepped down as Prime Minister in February 2004, and was appointed as President.