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President of Malta
President ta' Malta
Flag of the President of Malta.svg
Presidential Standard
Επίσκεψη ΥΠΕΞ Ν. Δένδια στη Μάλτα - Συνάντηση με Πρόεδρο Μάλτας George Vella (10.10.2022) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
George Vella
since 4 April 2019
StyleHis Excellency
ResidenceSan Anton Palace
AppointerHouse of Representatives
Term lengthFive years
Inaugural holderSir Anthony Mamo
Formation13 December 1974; 48 years ago (1974-12-13)
SuccessionLine of succession
Salary€68,936 annually[1]
Websitehttps://president.gov.mt/
List of presidents of Malta at San Anton Palace seen in 2014
List of presidents of Malta at San Anton Palace seen in 2014

The president of Malta (Maltese: President ta' Malta) is the constitutional head of state of Malta. The President is indirectly elected by the House of Representatives of Malta, which appoints the president for a five-year term and requires them to swear an oath to "preserve, protect and defend" the Constitution.[2] The President of Malta also resides directly or indirectly in all three branches of the state. They are part of Parliament and responsible for the appointment of the judiciary. Executive authority is nominally vested in the President, but is in practice exercised by the Prime Minister.[3]

Establishment of office

The office of the President of Malta (Maltese: President ta' Malta) came into being on 13 December 1974, when Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II ceased to be head of state and Queen of Malta (Maltese: Reġina ta' Malta), and the last Governor-General, Sir Anthony Mamo, became the first President of Malta.

Qualifications

A person shall not be qualified to be appointed President if:

Assumption of office

Before assuming office the nominee must take the oath of office before the House of Representatives of Malta.

The oath reads: I, (name of nominee), solemnly swear/affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President (perform the functions of the President) of Malta, and will, to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Malta. (So help me God).

Temporary vacancy

Whenever the office of President is temporarily vacant; until a new President is appointed; and whenever the holder of the office is absent from Malta, on vacation, or is for any reason unable to perform the functions conferred upon them by the Constitution, those functions are performed by an individual appointed by the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition. If such individual has not yet been appointed, the Speaker of the House of Representatives performs the duties of the President.

Role of the President

Among the powers of the President:

The role of the President is detailed in a publication (in Maltese) called Il-Manwal tal-President tar-Repubblika written by former President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.[4]

Official residences

The official office of the president is the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta. Other presidential residences include:

President's flag

The Presidents of Malta used the national flag as their presidential standard prior to 12 December 1998, when a proclamation established the Presidential Flag of Malta. The flag is flown on the President's official residences and offices and on all occasions at which they are present.[5]

Termination of appointment

The office of President shall become vacant:

List of presidents

Main article: List of heads of state of Malta

See also

References

  1. ^ "Leġiżlazzjoni Malta".
  2. ^ Article 50 and the Second Schedule of the Constitution of Malta
  3. ^ Articles 51, 96 and 78 of the Constitution of Malta
  4. ^ Il-Manwal tal-President tar-Repubblika
  5. ^ "Flags, Symbols, and their uses". About Malta. Government of Malta. Retrieved 10 April 2014.