Government and Politics of Malta

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

none (administered directly from Valletta); note - Local Councils carry out administrative orders

Legal System

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Malta dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Myriam SPITERI DEBONO (since 4 April 2024) head of government: Prime Minister Robert ABELA (since 13 January 2020) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held on 27 March 2024 (next to be held by April 2029); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister election results: Myriam SPITERI DEBONO elected president; House of Representatives vote - unanimous approval

Legislative Branch

unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 12 April 2003 (next to be held by August 2008) election results: percent of vote by party - PN 51.7%, MLP 47.6%, AD 0.7%; seats by party - PN 34, MLP 31

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political Parties

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Lawrence GONZI]

Head of State

President Edward George Abela

Head of Government

Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Elections

president elected by a resolution of the House of Representatives for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 12 January 2009 (next to be held by April 2014); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Election Results

George ABELA elected president by the House of Representatives

Constitution

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987

Independence

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

International Organization Participation

C, CE, EBRD, EU (new member), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador John LOWELL chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612 FAX: [1] (202) 387-5470 consulate(s): New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Molly BORDONARO embassy: 3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01 mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR01 telephone: [356] 2561 4000 FAX: [356] 21 243229

Capital City

Valletta

Location

35 53 N, 14 30 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

named in honor of Jean de VALETTE, the Grand Master of the Order of Saint John (crusader knights), who successfully led a defense of the island from an Ottoman invasion in 1565

U.S. Embassy – Malta Ta’Qali National Park Street Attard ATD 4000 MALTA Telephone: (356) 2561-4000 Email: ConsularMalta@state.gov The Consular Section is open for American Citizen Services Mondays and Fridays from 8:00-11:00 a.m. and Wednesdays from 1:00-4:00 p.m. All non-emergency services are by appointment only.

Military Branches

Armed Forces of Malta (AFM; includes land, maritime, and air elements)

Service Age and Obligation

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service; no conscription