Country name:

conventional long form:  Republic of Malta

conventional short form:  Malta

local long form:  Repubblika ta' Malta

local short form:  Malta

Government type:

republic

Capital:

Valletta

Administrative divisions:

none (administered directly from Valletta)

Independence:

21 September 1964 (from UK)

National holiday:

Independence Day, 21 September (1964)

Constitution:

1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974

Legal system:

based on English common law and Roman civil law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state:  President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)

head of government:  Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6 September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZE (since 4 April 1999)

cabinet:  Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

elections:  president elected by the House of Representatives for a five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by NA April 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

election results:  Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House of Representatives vote - 54%

Legislative branch:

unicameral House of Representatives (usually 65 seats; note - additional seats are given to the party with the largest popular vote to ensure a legislative majority; members are elected by popular vote on the basis of proportional representation to serve five-year terms)

elections:  last held 5 September 1998 (next to be held by September 2003)

election results:  percent of vote by party - PN 51.8%, MLP 46.9%, AD 1.2%; seats by party - PN 35, MLP 30

Judicial branch:

Constitutional Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister

Political parties and leaders:

Alternativa Demokratika/Alliance for Social Justice or AD [Harry VASSALLO]; Malta Labor Party or MLP [Alfred SANT]; Nationalist Party or PN [Edward FENECH ADAMI]

Political pressure groups and leaders:

NA

International organization participation:

C, CCC, CE, EBRD, ECE, EU (applicant), FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador George SALIBA

chancery:  2017 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

telephone:  [1] (202) 462-3611, 3612

FAX:  [1] (202) 387-5470

consulate(s):  New York

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission:  Ambassador George SALIBA

embassy:  3rd Floor, Development House, Saint Anne Street, Floriana, Malta VLT 01

mailing address:  P. O. Box 535, Valletta, Malta, CMR 01

telephone:  [356] 235960 through 235965

FAX:  [356] 243229

Flag description:

two equal vertical bands of white (hoist side) and red; in the upper hoist-side corner is a representation of the Saint George Cross, edged in red