Country name
conventional long form: Republic of Malta
conventional short form: Malta

Data code MT

Government type parliamentary democracy

National capital Valletta

Administrative divisions none (administered directly from Valletta)

Independence 21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution 1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Legal system based on English common law and Roman civil law; has accepted compulsoryICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: President Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI (since 4 April 1994)
head of government : Prime Minister Dr. Alfred SANT (since 28 October 1996); Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Dr. George VELLA (since 29 October 1996)
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 NA April 1994 (next to be held by NA April 1999); followingHouse of Representatives elections, the leader of the majority party or leaderof a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the presidentfor a five-year term
election results: Ugo MIFSUD BONNICI elected president; percent of House of Representativesvote - NA

Legislative branch unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additionalseats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislativemajority; current total: 69 seats; members are elected by proportional representationto serve five-year terms)
elections : last held 26 October 1996 (next to be held by October 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - MLP 50.7%, NP 46.5%; seats by party - NP34, MLP 31 (MLP 35, NP 34 after adjustment)

Judicial branch Constitutional Court, judges are appointed by the president on the adviceof the prime minister; Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the presidenton the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders Nationalist Party or NP [Edward FENECH ADAMI]; Malta Labor Party orMLP [Alfred SANT]

International organization participation C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU,ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO (correspondent), ITU, NACC (observer), NAM, OSCE, PCA, UN,UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US
chief of mission: Ambassador Albert Borg Olivier DE PUGET
chancery: 2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612
FAX : [1] (202) 387-5470
consulate(s): New York

Diplomatic representation from the US
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Charles N. PATTERSON, Jr.
embassy: 2nd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta
mailing address: P. O. Box 535, Valletta
telephone : [356] 235960
FAX: [356] 223322

Flag description two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upperhoist-side corner is a representation of the George Cross, edged in red

NOTE: The information regarding Malta on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Malta Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Malta Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.