Politics & Government Guide · MaltaPolitics & Government Guide in Malta
Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions
Malta is a parliamentary republic with a strong two-party system dominated by the Labour Party and the Nationalist Party. Robert Abela remains prime minister, while Myriam Spiteri Debono has served as president since April 2024. The country continues to score as a consolidated but imperfect democracy, with ongoing attention to governance, corruption, and institutional reform.
Political Stability
Moderate
Corruption Index
Moderate
Democracy Index
Good
Government Type
Parliamentary Republic
Legal System
Mixed legal system of civil law and common law influences
Head of State
President Myriam Spiteri Debono(since 2024)
Head of Government
Prime Minister Robert Abela(Labour Party)since 2020
Political Indicators
Political Stability
Scale: 0-1
Moderate
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2024)
Corruption Index
Scale: 0-100
Transparency International (2024)
Press Freedom
Scale: 0-100
Reporters Without Borders (2024)
Democracy Index
Scale: 0-10
Flawed Democracy
Economist Intelligence Unit (2024)
Legislature
Major Political Parties
Center-left
Center-right
Green-left
Voting Rights
Malta grants full voting rights to Maltese citizens aged 16 and over. EU citizens resident in Malta may vote in local and European Parliament elections if registered, but national parliamentary elections are reserved for citizens.
Recent Developments
- President Myriam Spiteri Debono took office in April 2024, continuing Malta's tradition of indirect presidential election by Parliament.
- Malta held elections to the European Parliament in June 2024, with the Labour Party remaining the strongest force despite losing support compared with earlier contests.
- The government has continued implementing reforms on governance, civil liberties, and public services, while debate over planning, corruption, and rule-of-law issues remains prominent.
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