President of Malta
Encyclopedia
The President of Malta is the constitutional head of state
of Malta
.
The President is appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives of Malta
for a five year term, taking an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution.
The President of Malta also resides directly or indirectly in all three branches of the state. He is part of Parliament, he appoints the judiciary and the executive authority is vested in the President.
George Abela
is currently serving as the 8th President of Malta.
became a republic
within the Commonwealth
. Queen Elizabeth II
ceased to be head of state
(Queen of Malta
) , and the last Governor-General
, Sir
Anthony Mamo
, became the first President of Malta.
A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the office of President if:
The office of President shall become vacant:
Whenever the office of President is temporarily vacant, and until a new President is appointed, and whenever the holder of the office is absent from Malta or on vacation or is for any reason unable to perform the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution, those functions shall be performed by such person as the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, may appoint or, if there is no person in Malta so appointed and able to perform those functions, by the Chief Justice.
in Valletta. Other presidential residences include:
in gold in each corner.
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
.
The President is appointed by a resolution of the House of Representatives of Malta
House of Representatives of Malta
The House of Representatives is the unicameral legislature of Malta and a component of the Parliament of Malta.The House is composed of an odd number of members elected for a five year term...
for a five year term, taking an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution.
The President of Malta also resides directly or indirectly in all three branches of the state. He is part of Parliament, he appoints the judiciary and the executive authority is vested in the President.
George Abela
George Abela
George Abela is a Maltese politician who has been President of Malta since April 2009.-Early life:Abela was born in Qormi, Malta, to George and Ludgarda née Debono. He attended the local primary school in Qormi, and the Lyceum in Hamrun. In 1965 he enrolled in the University of Malta, where he...
is currently serving as the 8th President of Malta.
Formation and qualifications
The office of the President of Malta , came into being on 13 December 1974, when MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
became a republic
Commonwealth republic
A republic in the Commonwealth of Nations is any one of the 33 sovereign states of the Commonwealth of Nations with a republican form of government...
within the Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
. Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
ceased to be head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
(Queen of Malta
Queen of Malta
This title of Queen of Malta was held by Elizabeth II between September 21, 1964 and December 13, 1974, following Malta's independence from the United Kingdom....
) , and the last Governor-General
Governor-General of Malta
-Governors of Malta, 1813-1964:*Lieut.-General Sir Thomas Maitland *General Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 1st Marquess of Hastings *Major-General Sir Frederick Cavendish Ponsonby *Lieut.-General Sir Patrick Stuart *Right Honourable Richard More O'Ferrall -Governors of Malta, 1813-1964:*Lieut.-General...
, Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Anthony Mamo
Anthony Mamo
Sir Anthony Joseph Mamo, OBE, QC was the first President of Malta and previously served as the last Governor-General, representing Elizabeth II as Queen of Malta, when the country was a Commonwealth realm...
, became the first President of Malta.
A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the office of President if:
- He is not a citizen of Malta;
- He holds or has held the office of Chief Justice or other Judge of the Superior Courts;
- He is not eligible for appointment to or to act in any public office in accordance with articles 109, 118 and 120 of the Constitution.
- He has already served once as President of Malta.
The office of President shall become vacant:
- On the expiration of five years from the date of the appointment to that office;
- If the holder of the office is removed from office by Resolution of the House of Representatives of MaltaHouse of Representatives of MaltaThe House of Representatives is the unicameral legislature of Malta and a component of the Parliament of Malta.The House is composed of an odd number of members elected for a five year term...
on the ground of inability to perform the functions of his office (whether arising from infirmity of body or mind or any other cause) or misbehaviour..
Whenever the office of President is temporarily vacant, and until a new President is appointed, and whenever the holder of the office is absent from Malta or on vacation or is for any reason unable to perform the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution, those functions shall be performed by such person as the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, may appoint or, if there is no person in Malta so appointed and able to perform those functions, by the Chief Justice.
Role of the president
Among the powers of the president:- The president promulgates laws.
- The president may dissolve the House of Representatives of MaltaHouse of Representatives of MaltaThe House of Representatives is the unicameral legislature of Malta and a component of the Parliament of Malta.The House is composed of an odd number of members elected for a five year term...
acting on the request of the Prime Minister of MaltaPrime Minister of MaltaThe Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
. - The president names the Prime Minister with the President making his or her decision based on the situation within the Maltese parliament.
- The president names most members of constitutional bodies (with the assent of the Prime Minister of MaltaPrime Minister of MaltaThe Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
). - The president receives foreign ambassadors.
- The president may grant a pardon (but not an amnesty) to convicted criminals; the president can also lessen or suppress criminal sentences.
- The president is ex-officio Chairman of the Commission for the Administration of Justice of Malta.
Official residences
The official office of the president is the Grandmaster's PalaceGrandmaster's Palace
The Grandmaster's Palace is located in Valletta. It currently houses the Office of the President of Malta and the House of Representatives, as well as being a heritage site run by Heritage Malta.-History:...
in Valletta. Other presidential residences include:
- San Anton PalaceSan Anton PalaceSan Anton Palace is a palace located in Attard, Malta. It is the official residence of the President of Malta, and is surrounded by both private and public gardens.-History:...
at AttardAttardĦ'Attard is a village located at the centre-most point of the island of Malta. Together with Balzan and Lija it forms part of "the Three Villages" and has been inhabited since the Classical Period. Ħ'Attard's traditional Latin motto is Florigera rosis halo due to its many flower gardens and citrus...
- official residence. - Verdala PalaceVerdala PalaceThe Verdala Palace is the official summer residence of the President of Malta. It was built by Grandmaster Hughues Loubenx de Verdalle in 1586 on the site of a hunting lodge previously owned by Grandmaster Jean de la Valette-Parisot. The palace is known for its surrounding boschetto, which is a...
at BuskettBuskettBuskett, in Siġġiewi, Malta is one of the few woodland area in Malta and is overlooked by Verdala Palace.The Buskett Gardens are located in the fertile valley of Wied Il- Luq, Siġġiewi. They are located to the south of Rabat and just east of Dingli...
- summer residence.
President's flag
Until 1988, there was no flag for the President of Malta, who instead used the national flag, but in that year a new flag was introduced, The Presidential Flag of Malta was introduced by Proclamation dated 12 December, 1988. This flag is flown on the President's official residences and offices and on all occasions at which he is present. It has the same proportions as the National Flag and consists of a blue field with the Emblem of Malta at its centre; and a Maltese CrossMaltese cross
The Maltese cross, also known as the Amalfi cross, is identified as the symbol of an order of Christian warriors known as the Knights Hospitaller or Knights of Malta and through them came to be identified with the Mediterranean island of Malta and is one of the National symbols of Malta...
in gold in each corner.
See also
- List of Presidents of Malta
- Prime Minister of MaltaPrime Minister of MaltaThe Prime Minister of Malta is the Head of Government of Malta.-Establishment of the office and developments:The office of "Head of Ministry" was created as soon as Malta was granted autonomous government in 1921. The 1921 constitution was suspended twice before being revoked...
- List of heads of state of Malta