Veteran MP Chris Agius to retire from politics

Parliament veteran Chris Agius will retire after a 30-year political career, he told Times of Malta.

Agius, widely known by his nickname il-Wefi, has been a fixture on Labour’s benches ever since he was first elected in 1996.

He successfully contested each election since then, getting elected in seven consecutive elections.

Agius spent eight years in cabinet as a junior minister, first serving as parliamentary secretary for research, innovation and sport, upon Labour’s election in 2013. He later also served as junior minister for planning and lands.

Throughout his career, he also represented Malta within several international institutions, including the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Agius with then UEFA president Michel Platini in 2014. File photo

Agius moved to the backbench in 2022, but remained a popular figure, particularly among his constituents in the Cottonera.  

In 2023, Agius was named the chair of Yachting Malta, a public-private partnership between the government and the Royal Malta Yacht Club.

When contacted, Agius said he had always planned to hang up his boots upon reaching retirement age.

Now 64 years old, Agius said the time was ripe for him to make space for younger blood and to spend more time with his family.

Agius said he planned to continue contributing to the party in a less prominent role over the coming years.