Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2014/15 199 KEY FACTS Joined Commonwealth: 1964 Population: 429,000 (2013) GDP p.c. growth: 2.4% p.a. 1990–2013 UN HDI 2014: World ranking 39 Official languages: Maltese, English Time: GMT plus 1–2 hrs Currency: Euro (€) Geography Area: 316 sq km Coastline: 253 km Capital: Valletta The Republic of Malta comprises an archipelago of six islands and islets in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, 93 km south of Sicily and 290 km from the coast of North Africa. Malta, Gozo and Comino are inhabited; the other islands are Cominotto, Filfla and St Paul’s Island. Constitution Status: Republic Legislature: Parliament of Malta Independence: 21 September 1964 Under the 1964 constitution – amended in 1974 and 1987 – Malta is a democratic republic with a unicameral House of Representatives of at least 65 members. The country has proportional representation using the single transferable vote system. A party that obtains a majority of votes but a minority of seats is allocated additional seats to give it an overall majority of one. The House may not sit for longer than five years. The President is the head of state and is elected for a five-year period of office by the House of Representatives. The incumbent has executive authority but must act on the cabinet’s advice and the position is therefore largely ceremonial. The Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition are both appointed by the President. The cabinet is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. All appointees must be members of parliament. Under the constitution, Roman Catholic Christianity is the state religion and must be taught in state schools. Judicial system Supreme court: Constitutional Court Ministry: Office of the Attorney-General The judiciary is independent. The Constitutional Court has jurisdiction in matters relating to elections and membership of the House of Representatives, and hears appeals involving human rights, the constitution and the integrity of laws. The Court of Appeal receives appeals regarding civil cases from the civil or magistrates courts, or from the several administrative tribunals. The Court of Criminal Appeal deals with appeals arising from criminal cases in the criminal or magistrates courts. Criminal courts generally sit with a judge and jury. Government and politics Last elections: 9 March 2013 (parliamentary), 1 April 2009 (presidential) Next elections: 2018 (parliamentary), 1 April 2014 (presidential) Head of state: President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca (2014–) Head of government: Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat Ruling party: Partit Laburista Women MPs: 14% Although the 2003 referendum on EU membership gave the Nationalist Party (PN) government a mandate to proceed with ratifying the treaty for accession to the EU in May 2004, the opposition continued to insist that it would take Malta out of the EU if it won the election in 2004, and so the government called an early election, which in April 2003 decisively closed the debate. The PN won the hard-fought contest with 35 of the 65 seats and 51.8 per cent of the votes, a pivotal result in a country where the two main parties normally each enjoy the support of about half the electorate. Following the election, the Malta Labour Party, which Malta
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