Former PN MP, long-time party stalwart Karl Gouder dies aged 45
Former Nationalist Party MP Karl Gouder has died at the age of 45. He died in Valletta.
Gouder was a former Mayor of St Julian's, as well as PN MP between 2010 and 2013 and between 2016 and 2022. He served as the PN's campaign manager during last June's MEP and local council elections and was the Chief Operation Officer of the PN’s media wing.
Only last Sunday, he told The Malta Independent that he was going to be contesting for the role of General Secretary within the Nationalist Party after Michael Piccinino announced that he would be departing from the role in order to contest the next general election.
Gouder told this newspaper that he believes that the country is in "serious need of a change and the only change is that of having a Nationalist government."
"To do this we need to keep on strengthening the party, we need to keep speaking to people and we need to keep convincing people that Malta can be a much better place," Gouder told The Malta Independent last Sunday.
Born in 1979, Gouder was Malta’s first openly gay Member of Parliament after he was elected in 2010 to replace
Michael Frendo, who had been appointed as Speaker. At the time, he was also the youngest MP on the government’s side of the bench.
He was not re-elected in the 2013 general elections, but returned to Parliament via co-option as he replaced the late cardiologist Albert Fenech, who had resigned to take on a professional engagement overseas. Gouder was subsequently appointed as the PN’s spokesperson on culture.
He was re-elected in the 2017 general elections, and was appointed as the party’s deputy Whip in November 2020 by PN leader Bernard Grech soon after he took up the post from Adrian Delia.
He was not re-elected in 2022 and opted against contesting a casual election brought about by the passing of PN stalwart Robert Arrigo, choosing instead to focus on his internal party roles.
Under his leadership, the PN’s media wing NET TV became the most followed private television station on the island - a result shared by Gouder himself just last month, when the last Broadcasting Authority survey was issued.
In a post on social media, PN leader Bernard Grech announced Gouder’s passing and said that he had offered his and the party’s condolences to his family.
He described Gouder as someone who was “dedicated and occupied several important roles both within the PN and within its media structures.”
“At this moment, our thoughts and prayers are with Karl’s family,” the PN leader said, and appealed for their privacy to be respected.
Nationalist Party MEP and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola shared an image of her with Gouder and wrote that she was "devastated" at the news, offering her condolences.
In a short statement, the Labour Party also paid tribute to Gouder's memory and offered its condolences to his family and those close to him.
Prime Minister Robert Abela wrote that he had known Gouder since their school days and that they had grown up together. “We later became colleagues in Parliament. Despite being on opposite benches, that childhood friendship always remained there,” Abela said.
He then said that Gouder always had a sense of commitment to the community and the citizen, and that he was truly sorry for his loss. He offered his condolences to his family and friends.
President Myriam Spiteri Debono said that she had never met Gouder personally, but that she had observed how he acted and spoke ever since he came into the political scene.
“I must say that when he was mentioned for the post of PN Secretary General I saw it in a positive light both for the party’s and the nation’s interests,” she wrote. “Karl, rest in peace and may your beautiful qualities shine through others,”
she said.
Speaker Anġlu Farruga expressed his sorrow at the news of Gouder’s death, and offered his and Parliament’s condolences to his friends and all those close to him.
PN MEP David Casa said that the news of Gouder’s death was a “big shock”. He continued that he will cherish their friendship and salute Gouder’s memory. “We remember him as a man of exemplary seriousness and dedication.”
PN MP Karol Aquilina wrote that Gouder's loss was huge. "Hard. Too hard. I don't have the words, and I doubt that there exist the words, to express how I am feeling right now," Aquilina wrote on Facebook. "Karl's loss is an immense one. I have lost a colleague, a friend, a person
with a heart of gold," he said. He added that he had the fortune to work with Gouder not just within the PN, but also within the University of Malta Student Council - KSU and the student organisation SDM.
"Today's ugly news brings with it a lot of questions which I do not know how to answer," he said.
PN Deputy Leader Alex Perici Calascione wrote: “No words can adequately describe shock, disbelief and such boundless, boundless sadness. Fly high “Buddy”…you were not one of the best…you were the best.”
PN MP Adrian Delia said that he was left “without words”. He remarked how he had spoken to Gouder a few days ago and that they had agreed to meet and discuss steps for the PN and Malta moving forward.
“Rest in peace friend,” he commented.
In a statement posted on the PN’s Facebook page, it said that the party sends its sincere condolences to Gouder’s family and mentioned how he had led the electoral campaign for the elections this past June. The PN echoed Grech’s sentiments of praying for and thinking of Gouder’s family.
Energy Minister Miriam Dalli spoke of Gouder as a gentleman and a man of great esteem. “There was always great respect whenever we spoke, which you do not always find.”
Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri said that Gouder was always a respectable man, and offered his condolences to the former MP’s family.
Transport Minister Chris Bonett said that he was left without words and that he and Gouder have been friends since they were at University, despite coming from “opposing political camps”. Bonett described Gouder as a “good strategist, a sympathetic person, and above all a loyal adversary”. He added that Gouder never attacked anyone personally and that he always spoke to people kindly, “and so he was very respected”.
The Malta Gay Rights Movement posted a statement in which they said that they are shocked at the news of Gouder’s passing. The organisation said that Gouder was Malta’s first openly gay politician to be elected as an MP and added that he “was one of the more vocal persons in the early days of the debate on the cohabitation bill and in the journey towards marriage equality.”
“We want to thank Karl for his commitment to his public office and for representing our community, particularly at a time when the conversation was very different from today.” MGRM added that they offer their sincere condolences to Gouder’s family, friends, and colleagues.
Fr Joseph Borg said that the news of Gouder’s passing has shocked him. “When they called me a bit ago I could not rise from my chair.”
Borg went on to say that Gouder was a gentleman and that he was one of the best people. He said that Gouder got along well with everyone because he respected everyone. Borg described the former MP as a determined, capable, and loyal worker. “He managed to do what no one else had the ability to do,” Borg said as he spoke about Gouder’s work with Net TV. “He, his family, and his friends are in my prayers.”