Born in Sliema, Attard Montalto studied History and Law at the University of Malta and he was also student representative on the University Senate. He first contested the general elections in 1987 and was elected. He was re-elected in subsequent elections in 1992, 1996, 1998 and 2003. Between 1996 and 1998, when the Labour Party was in government, he served as Minister for Industry and Economic Affairs.[3]
After the defeat of Labour Party at the polls in 2003 and the resignation of the Party Leader Alfred Sant, Attard Montalto announced his intention to run for the post. The race turned out to be between three contestants, including Sant who was persuaded to run and who, eventually, won the election. Attard Montalto finished last. In the same year Attard Montalto was appointed an observer to the European Parliament by the Labour Party. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2004 (resigning his seat in the Maltese House of Representatives) where he sat with the Party of European Socialists and was the first Head of Delegation for Labour MEPs from Malta.[4]
His tenure as MEP has not been without controversy. He did not attend the plenary session at Strasbourg for the vote on the Port Services Directive, a proposal which the Labour Party was against. Labour Party leader Alfred Sant said Attard Montalto had been on a "personal political mission" to Central America.[7] In the past, Attard Montalto was also member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (1992–1995, 1995–1997,1999-2003, 2003–2005).[8]
