Updated 2 | Former Prime Minister Dom Mintoff shows signs of improvement

Former Labour Prime Minister Dom Mintoff, 95, was admitted to Mater Dei Hospital and is currently receiving treatment at the Intensive Therapy Unit.

In a statement issued by Mater Dei Hospital this afternoon, the medical staff at the hospital said that although Mintoff is showing signs of improvement, his general condition remains "serious" requiring further intervention in the Intensive Therapy Unit.

Mater Dei said that Mintoff was treated at 5.30 pm on 19 July in the Resuscitation Area of the Accident and Emergency Department.

His condition was described by the Cardiology Team responsible for his care as critical.

Five months ago Mintoff, who next month will turn 96, was treated for heart failure and a severe chest infection. Last year, Mintoff was admitted to hospital several times.

Mintoff, a politician, journalist and architect served as leader of the Labour Party from 1949 to 1984. He was Prime Minister of Malta from 1955 to 1958 and from 1971 to 1984.

On 22nd December 1984, Mintoff voluntarily left office to enable his successor, Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici to take over. 

In 1998 Mintoff, who by then was a backbencher, denied Alfred Sant a majority in parliament on the Cottonera yacht marina motion, paving the way for Nationalist re-election and the re-activation of Malta's EU membership application, which he would later campaign against.