This is the complete list of presidents of Malta, Including the acting present:
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No. | President | Took Office | Left Office | Political Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sir Anthony Mamo | 13 Dec 1974 | 27 Dec 1976 | Independent |
2 | Anton Buttigieg | 27 Dec 1976 | 27 Dec 1981 | Labour Party |
3 | Albert Hyzler | 27 Dec 1981 | 15 Feb 1982 | Labour Party |
4 | Agatha Barbara | 15 Febr 1982 | 15 Feb 1987 | Labour Party |
5 | Paul Xuereb | 15 Febr 1987 | 4 Apr 1989 | Labour Party |
6 | Ċensu Tabone | 4 Apr 1989 | 4 Apr 1994 | Nationalist Party |
7 | Ugo Mifsud Bonnici | 4 Apr 1994 | 4 Apr 1999 | Nationalist Party |
8 | Guido de Marco | 4 Apr 1999 | 4 Apr 2004 | Nationalist Party |
9 | Eddie Fenech Adami | 4 Apr 2004 | 4 Apr 2009 | Nationalist Party |
10 | George Abela | 4 Apr 2009 | 4 Apr 2014 | Labour Party |
11 | Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca | 4 Apr2014 | 4 Apr 2019 | Labour Party |
12 | George Vella | 4 Apr 2019 | 4 Apr 2024 | Labour Party |
13 | Myriam Spiteri Debono | 4 Apr 2024 | Incumbent | Labour Party |
How Many Presidents Has Malta Had?
Malta has had 13 presidents since it became a republic in 1974, including the acting presidents. The office of the President of Malta was set up on December 13, 1974.
This happened when Malta changed from being a Commonwealth realm to a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. The first president was Sir Anthony Mamo.
He served from December 13, 1974, to December 27, 1976. After him, Dr. Anton Buttigieg became the second president, serving from December 27, 1976, to December 27, 1981.
In 1981, Dr. Albert Hyzler took over as Acting President from December 27, 1981, to February 15, 1982. He was followed by Ms. Agatha Barbara, who became the first female President of Malta.
She served from February 15, 1982, to February 15, 1987. After Ms. Agatha Barbara, Mr. Paul Xuereb served as Acting President from February 15, 1987, to April 4, 1989.
Then, Dr. Ċensu Tabone was elected President, and he served from April 4, 1989, to April 4, 1994. The fifth President of Malta was Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. He served from April 4, 1994, to April 4, 1999.
After him, Dr. Guido de Marco became the sixth president, serving from April 4, 1999, to April 4, 2004. Dr. Eddie Fenech Adami was the seventh President of Malta.
He served from April 4, 2004, to April 4, 2009. After that, Dr. George Abela was elected and served from April 4, 2009, to April 4, 2014. The ninth President of Malta was Dr. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. She served from April 4, 2014, to April 4, 2019.
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How Long Does A President Serve In Malta?
In Malta, the President serves a term of five years. This rule has been in place since Malta became a republic on December 13, 1974.
The President is not directly elected by the public; instead, they are chosen by the House of Representatives. However, the House of Representatives is made up of elected Members of Parliament (MPs).
When it is time to appoint a new President, the House of Representatives votes to choose someone. To be appointed, the President must get a two-thirds majority vote.
This means that the chosen President needs support from both the government and the opposition. This rule helps to promote unity and stability in the country.
Once appointed, the President takes an oath to uphold the Constitution of Malta. The role of the President is mostly ceremonial, that is the president does not have direct control over the government.
Instead, the President acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. For example, the President signs bills into law after they have been passed by Parliament. The President can only serve one term and cannot be re-elected.
This rule helps to prevent any one person from holding too much power for too long. And, If a President resigns or if their term ends, a new President must be appointed.
If there is a delay in appointing a new President, an acting President may be appointed temporarily until a new one is chosen.
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Who Is The Current President Of Malta?
Myriam Spiteri Debono is the current President of Malta. She took office on April 4, 2024, and she is the 11th person to become president and the third woman to hold this position in Malta’s history.
The first two women who were presidents before her were Agatha Barbara and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca. Before becoming president, Spiteri Debono had an important career as a notary, which is a type of lawyer who deals with legal documents.
She was also known for her work in politics. From 1996 to 1998, she was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. She was the first woman to hold this role in Malta.
Throughout her career, she worked on many projects to promote gender equality and help vulnerable groups in society. Her appointment as president was historic for a few reasons.
For the first time, a new president was chosen through a parliamentary motion that needed a two-thirds majority vote. This change happened because of a constitutional reform in 2020.
The reform aimed to make sure there was a broad agreement in choosing the president. On March 27, 2024, the Maltese Parliament approved her nomination unanimously.
Both Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech supported her candidacy. During her swearing-in ceremony, Spiteri Debono expressed her commitment to serving all the citizens of Malta.
She talked about the importance of unity and progress. She said she hopes to be a president who can help bring people together.
Her background as a notary gives her a strong understanding of the law and the Constitution, which she promised to uphold during her presidency.