Soon after his graduation, Lawrence Gonzi actively engaged himself in the Voluntary Sector, particularly in the sectors related to disability issues and mental health issues. He was also the General President of the Malta Catholic Action Movement between 1976 and 1986.  

He was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives on 10^th October 1988 during the Sixth Legislature (1988-1992), and on the 5^th April 1992 he was unanimously re-elected Speaker for the Seventh Legislature (1992-1996). His tenure as Speaker of the House of Representatives exposed his modest but firm bearing, which has helped calm frayed tempers during quite difficult moments for the House.  

Lawrence Gonzi contested the October 1996 General Elections and was elected to Parliament. In November 1996, he was appointed Opposition Party Whip, Secretary to the Parliamentary Group and Shadow Minister for Social Policy. A year after he was elected Secretary General of the Nationalist Party.  

Following the September 1998 General Elections, Lawrence Gonzi was appointed Minister for Social Policy and Leader of the House of Representatives.  Between May 1999 and March 2004 he served as Deputy Prime Minister

On the 23^rd March 2004, Lawrence Gonzi took oath of office as Prime Minister of Malta.   Lawrence Gonzi was also Minister of Finance between 2004 and 2008.

On the of 1^st May, 2004 Malta joined the European Union and as Prime Minister, Dr. Gonzi was succesfully guiding Malta through a restructuring process which resulted in Malta’s economy fulfilling the required criteria for the adoption of the euro as Malta’s national currency from the 1^st of January 2008.

As Head of the Maltese Governemnt, Dr. Gonzi hosted the 2005 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which was successfully organised and held in Malta.  

During the first months of his premiership Lawrence Gonzi embarked upon a drive to improve management of public finances, focused sharply upon improving Malta’s competitiveness in the international market, and accelerated the restructuring of the public sector.  Extensive public consultation is a marked characteristic of a new style of politics introduced during his tenure.