Editing Malta (section)

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of Malta|Government of Malta|Law of Malta|Foreign relations of Malta}}
{{multiple image
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 | image1            =Myriam Spiteri Debono on April 20, 2024 (cropped).jpg
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 | caption1          = [[Myriam Spiteri Debono]]<br />[[President of Malta]]<br />since 4 April 2024 
 | image2            = Robert Abela - Official Portrait 2022 (cropped).jpg
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 | caption2          = [[Robert Abela]]<br />[[Prime Minister of Malta]]<br />since 13 January 2020
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[[File:Malta’s Parliament building in Valletta (cropped).jpg|thumb|The [[Parliament House (Malta)|Parliament House]] in Valletta]]
Malta is a republic<ref name="constitution" /> whose [[parliamentary system]] and [[public administration]] are closely modelled on the [[Westminster system]]. The [[unicameral]] parliament is made up of the [[president of Malta]] and the [[House of Representatives of Malta|House of Representatives]] ({{langx|mt|Kamra tad-Deputati}}).

The House of Representatives has 65 members, elected for a five-year term in 13 five-seat electoral divisions, called {{lang|mt|distretti elettorali}}, with constitutional amendments that allow for mechanisms to establish strict proportionality amongst seats and votes of political parliamentary groups. Members of the House of Representatives are elected by direct universal suffrage through [[single transferable vote]] every five years, unless the House is dissolved earlier by the president either on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of Malta|prime minister]] or through a motion of no confidence. Malta had the second-highest [[voter turnout]] in the world (and the highest for nations without [[mandatory voting]]), based on election turnout in national [[lower house]] elections from 1960 to 1995.<ref>Mark N. Franklin. "Electoral Participation." in ''Controversies in Voting Behavior''</ref>

The President of Malta, a largely ceremonial position, is appointed for a five-year term by a resolution of the House of Representatives carried by a simple majority. The president is the head of state. The current president of the republic is [[Myriam Spiteri Debono]], who was elected on 27 March 2024, by members of parliament in an [[indirect election]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Magri |first1=Giulia |title=Parliament unanimously approves Myriam Spiteri Debono as Malta's next President |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/parliament-approves-myriam-spiteri-debono-malta-next-president.1089991 |access-date=31 March 2024 |work=Times of Malta |date=27 March 2024}}</ref> The 80th article of the [[Constitution of Malta]] provides that the president appoint as prime minister "the member of the House of Representatives who, in his judgment, is best able to command the support of a majority of the members of that House".<ref name="constitution" />

Maltese politics is a [[two-party system]] dominated by the [[Labour Party (Malta)|Labour Party]] ({{langx|mt|Partit Laburista}}), a centre-left [[social democracy|social democratic]] party, and the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]] ({{langx|mt|Partit Nazzjonalista}}), a centre-right [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]] party. The Labour Party has been the governing party since 2013 and is currently led by Prime Minister [[Robert Abela]], who has been in office since 13 January 2020. There are also a number of small political parties in Malta which have no parliamentary representation.

Corruption, money laundering, and government maladministration in Malta have significantly increased since the Labour Party returned to power.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Labour's meltdown risk |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/comment/blogs/130783/labours_meltdown_risk |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=MaltaToday.com.mt |language=en}}</ref> In fact, Malta's record of clean governance has decreased since 2013, and the country is now considered among one of the worst EU member states in tackling corruption according to [[Transparency International]]. The same association reported that Malta dropped to its lowest ever ranking of 65th place in a report published on February 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 January 2024 |title=Malta |url=https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/malta |access-date=28 January 2025 |website=Transparency.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cummings |first=James |date=11 February 2025 |title=Malta slips to lowest ever place in international corruption index |url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/malta-slips-lowest-ever-place-international-corruption-index.1104982 |access-date=11 February 2025 |website=Times of Malta |language=en-gb}}</ref>

===Administrative divisions===
{{Main|Local councils of Malta|Districts of Malta|Regions of Malta}}
[[File:Malta - administrative division.svg|thumb|[[Local councils of Malta|Administrative divisions]] of Malta]]

Malta has had a system of local government since 1993,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Council Act of Malta |url=http://www.maltadata.com/loc-act.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616004627/http://www.maltadata.com/loc-act.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2013 |access-date=20 October 2013}}</ref> based on the [[European Charter of Local Self-Government]]. The country is divided into [[Regions of Malta|six regions]] (one of them being Gozo), with each region having its own Regional Council, serving as the intermediate level between local government and national government.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.lc.gov.mt/mediacenter/PDFs/1_Protocol.revised.pdf |title=Protokol Lokali u Reġjonali |publisher=Dipartiment tal-Informazzjoni|pages=5–6 |language=mt |access-date=2 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120617100535/http://www.lc.gov.mt/mediacenter/PDFs/1_Protocol.revised.pdf |archive-date=17 June 2012 }}</ref> The regions are divided into [[Local councils of Malta|local councils]], of which there are currently 68 (54 in Malta and 14 in [[Gozo]]). The [[Districts of Malta|six districts]] (five on Malta and the sixth being Gozo) serve primarily statistical purposes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Malta |url=http://www.aer.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/MainIssues/Regional_Democracy/AER_Regionalism_Report/Report_by_country/MALTA_2010.pdf  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208122702/http://www.aer.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/MainIssues/Regional_Democracy/AER_Regionalism_Report/Report_by_country/MALTA_2010.pdf |archive-date=8 February 2013 |access-date=2 April 2015 |publisher=[[Assembly of European Regions]]}}</ref>

Each council is made up of a number of councillors (from 5 to 13, depending on and relative to the population they represent). A mayor and a deputy mayor are elected by and from the councillors. The executive secretary, who is appointed by the council, is the executive, administrative and financial head of the council. Councillors are elected every four years through the single transferable vote. Due to system reforms, no elections were held before 2012. Since then, elections have been held every two years for an alternating half of the councils.

Local councils are responsible for the general upkeep and embellishment of the locality (including repairs to non-arterial roads), allocation of local wardens, and refuse collection; they also carry out general administrative duties for the central government such as the collection of government rents and funds and answer government-related public inquiries. Additionally, a number of individual towns and villages in the Republic of Malta have [[List of twin towns and sister cities in Malta|sister cities]].

===Military===
{{Main|Armed Forces of Malta}}

[[File:Malta armed forces marine ships 02.jpg|thumb|Maltese patrol ship at [[Hay Wharf]], [[Floriana]]]]
The objectives of the [[Armed Forces of Malta]] (AFM) are to maintain a military organisation with the primary aim of defending the islands' integrity according to the defence roles as set by the government in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is achieved by emphasising the maintenance of Malta's territorial waters and airspace integrity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Defence Roles |url=https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/Pages/Defence-Roles.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508010819/https://afm.gov.mt/en/forcestructure/Pages/Defence-Roles.aspx |archive-date=8 May 2019 |website=Afm.gov.mt}}</ref>

The AFM also engages in combating terrorism, fighting against illicit drug trafficking, conducting anti-illegal immigrant operations and patrols, and anti-illegal fishing operations, operating [[search and rescue]] (SAR) services, and physical or electronic security and surveillance of sensitive locations. Malta's search-and-rescue area extends from east of [[Tunisia]] to west of [[Crete]], an area of around {{cvt|250000|km2}}.<ref>[https://afm.gov.mt/en/operationsanddeployments/national/Pages/Operations-Centre.aspx AFM Operations Centre – SAR Region] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508004339/https://afm.gov.mt/en/operationsanddeployments/national/Pages/Operations-Centre.aspx |date=8 May 2019 }}. Afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 28 December 2019</ref>

As a military organisation, the AFM provides backup support to the [[Malta Police Force]] (MPF) and other government departments/agencies in situations as required in an organised, disciplined manner in the event of national emergencies (such as natural disasters) or internal security and bomb disposal.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Armed Forces of Malta |url=http://afm.gov.mt/en/Pages/AFM.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126145312/http://afm.gov.mt/en/Pages/AFM.aspx |archive-date=26 November 2016 |website=Afm.gov.mt}}</ref>

In 2020, Malta signed and ratified the UN [[treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chapter XXVI: Disarmament&nbsp;– No. 9 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons |url=https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |publisher=United Nations Treaty Collection |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806220546/https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-9&chapter=26&clang=_en |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=21 September 2020 |title=Nuclear arms prohibition treaty ratified by foreign minister |work=Malta Today |url=https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/104847/nuclear_arms_prohibition_treaty_ratified_by_foreign_minister |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=3 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103124622/https://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/104847/nuclear_arms_prohibition_treaty_ratified_by_foreign_minister |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Human rights===
{{See also|LGBT rights in Malta|Human rights in Malta}}
Malta is regarded as one of the most [[LGBT]]-supportive countries in the world,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/57877/malta_ranked_first_in_european_rainbow_map_of_lgbtiq_rights|title=Malta ranks first in European 'rainbow map' of LGBTIQ rights|work=MaltaToday.com.mt|access-date=3 August 2023|archive-date=9 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009221030/http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/57877/malta_ranked_first_in_european_rainbow_map_of_lgbtiq_rights|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-09-27/local-news/UN-equality-head-praises-Malta-as-beacon-of-human-rights-for-LGBTIQ-issues-6736179515|date=27 September 2017|title=UN equality head praises Malta as 'beacon of human rights for LGBTIQ issues'|website=The Malta Independent|access-date=2 October 2017|archive-date=29 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929044521/http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2017-09-27/local-news/UN-equality-head-praises-Malta-as-beacon-of-human-rights-for-LGBTIQ-issues-6736179515|url-status=live}}</ref> and was the first nation in the [[European Union]] to prohibit [[conversion therapy]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Benjamin|first=Butterworth|title=Malta just became the first country in Europe to ban 'gay cure' therapy|url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/12/06/malta-just-became-the-first-country-in-europe-to-ban-gay-cure-therapy/|newspaper=[[Pink News]]|date=6 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206160701/http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2016/12/06/malta-just-became-the-first-country-in-europe-to-ban-gay-cure-therapy/|archive-date=6 December 2016}}</ref> Malta also constitutionally bans discrimination based on disability.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8879&l=1 |title=Equal Opportunities (Persons with Disability) Act (Cap. 413) |publisher=[[Ministry of Justice (Malta)|Ministry of Justice]] |access-date=31 May 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418073347/http://justiceservices.gov.mt:80/DownloadDocument.aspx?app=lom&itemid=8879&l=1 |archive-date=18 April 2015 }}</ref>
Maltese legislation recognises both civil and canonical (ecclesiastical) marriages. Annulments by the ecclesiastical and civil courts are unrelated and are not necessarily mutually endorsed. Malta voted in favour of divorce legislation in [[2011 Maltese divorce referendum|a referendum held on 28 May 2011]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 May 2011 |title=Malta votes 'Yes' in divorce referendum |work=[[BBC News Online]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13588834 |url-status=live |access-date=1 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110601223233/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13588834 |archive-date=1 June 2011}}</ref>

[[Abortion in Malta]] is illegal. It and [[Poland]] are the only European Union members with near-total bans on the procedure. There are no exceptions for [[rape]] or [[incest]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 August 2022 |title=Malta: The only EU country where abortion is illegal leaves women scared |work=[[BBC News Online]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62479624 |first1=Jessica |last1=Parker |first2=Sira |last2=Thierij |access-date=2 October 2022 |archive-date=2 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002235747/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-62479624 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 21 November 2022, the government led by the Labour Party proposed a bill that "introduces a new clause into the country's criminal code allowing for the termination of a pregnancy if the mother's life is at risk or if her health is in serious jeopardy";<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2022 |title=Malta proposes bill to ease EU's strictest anti-abortion law |url=https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-religion-europe-malta-4a20fcad6313c1414a843dbbb364e726 |author=Kevin Schembri Orland |access-date=22 November 2022 |website=AP NEWS |language=en |archive-date=21 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221121220924/https://apnews.com/article/abortion-health-religion-europe-malta-4a20fcad6313c1414a843dbbb364e726 |url-status=live }}</ref> the bill passed in June 2023 with amendments restricting the exception to situations where the woman's life is at risk.<ref>{{Cite news |date=28 June 2023 |title=Malta to allow abortion but only when woman's life is at risk |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/28/malta-to-allow-abortion-but-only-when-womans-life-is-at-risk |access-date=9 February 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>