Malta 

Key facts

POPULATION (2005 Census): 404,962
AREA: 316 sq km
CAPITAL: Valletta
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION TO GDP: -
CURRENCY: euro (EUR)
HEAD OF STATE: President George Abela
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: republic
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: unicameral
STATE STRUCTURE: unitary
LANGUAGES: Maltese and English (official)
NATIONAL ELECTIONS:                                                                                      Legislative last: March 2008; turnout: 93.3%; next: 2011
Presidential: last: April 2009; turnout: - next: 2014
LOCAL ELECTIONS last: June 2009; turnout 77.1%; next: 10 March 2012

Summary

Malta is a parliamentary republic with two tiers of government: central and local. Local government is enshrined in Malta’s constitution and is governed by the Local Councils Act 1993. The Department for Local Government (formerly Local Councils Department) was set up in the Ministry of Justice and Local Government and now resides in the Office of the Prime Minister. Its role is to monitor and support councils and spearhead devolution and decentralisation. Malta has a single-tiered local government system with 68 councils: Gozo has 14 councils while the island of Malta has 54, including a city council for the capital Valletta. There are also 16 subordinate administrative committees for the larger hamlets in a number of the council areas. Local councils have revenue-raising powers; however over three-quarters of their revenue comes from central government transfers. Local councils in Malta are responsible for the maintenance of footways, road signs, playgrounds, gardens and leisure facilities, and for refuse collection and a range of health service institutions.

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