List of heads of state of Malta

This article lists the heads of state of Malta, from independence as the State of Malta in 1964 to present.

From 1964 to 1974, Malta was a Commonwealth realm and its head of state under the Constitution of Malta was the queen of Malta, Elizabeth II – who was also simultaneously the queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. She was represented in Malta by a governor-general. Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth after constitutional amendments in 1974, and the position of monarch and governor-general were replaced by the president of Malta who is indirectly elected.

Queen of Malta (1964–1974)

Main article: Queen of Malta

The succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.

No.	Portrait	Monarch (Birth–Death)	Reign			Royal House	Prime Minister
			Reign start	Reign end	Duration
1		Queen Elizabeth II (1926–2022)	21 September 1964	13 December 1974	10 years, 83 days	Windsor	Borg Olivier Mintoff

Governors-general of Malta

The governor-general of Malta was the representative of the monarch in Malta and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The governor-general was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the governor-general was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Malta without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the chief justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status

  Denotes chief justice acting as Officer Administering the Government

No.	Portrait	Governor-General (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch	Prime Minister
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Sir Maurice Dorman (1912–1993)	21 September 1964	22 June 1971	6 years, 274 days	Elizabeth II	Borg Olivier Mintoff
2		Sir Anthony Mamo (1909–2008)	22 June 1971	5 July 1971	3 years, 174 days		Mintoff
			5 July 1971	13 December 1974

Presidents of Malta (1974–present)

Main article: President of Malta

Under the Constitution of Malta as amended in 1974, the position of President of Malta replaced the British monarch as head of state. The position of president is elected by Parliament for a five-year term. As from 1989, the president is traditionally inaugurated on April 4 of the year of the nomination and subsequent election of the president by Parliament, provided the preceding president has not resigned before their term expired. In the event of a vacancy, or for any reason the president is unable to perform the functions conferred upon them by the Constitution, those functions are performed by an acting president (Maltese: Aġent President) appointed by the prime minister, after consultation with the leader of the opposition. If there is no person in Malta so appointed and able to perform those functions, the chief justice serves as acting president.

Political parties

  Labour Party

  Nationalist Party

  Independent

Status

  Denotes acting president

No.	Portrait	President (Birth–Death)	Elected	Term of office			Political party	Prime minister
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Sir Anthony Mamo (1909–2008)	1974	13 December 1974	27 December 1976	2 years, 14 days	Independent	Mintoff
2		Anton Buttigieg (1912–1983)	1976	27 December 1976	27 December 1981	5 years	Labour Party	Mintoff
—		Albert Hyzler (1916–1993)	—	27 December 1981	15 February 1982	50 days	Labour Party	Mintoff
3		Agatha Barbara (1923–2002)	1982	15 February 1982	15 February 1987	5 years	Labour Party	Mintoff Mifsud Bonnici
—		Paul Xuereb (1923–1994)	—	15 February 1987	4 April 1989	2 years, 48 days	Labour Party	Mifsud Bonnici Fenech Adami
4		Ċensu Tabone (1913–2012)	1989	4 April 1989	4 April 1994	5 years	Nationalist Party	Fenech Adami
5		Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (born 1932)	1994	4 April 1994	4 April 1999	5 years	Nationalist Party	Fenech Adami Sant Fenech Adami
6		Guido de Marco (1931–2010)	1999	4 April 1999	4 April 2004	5 years	Nationalist Party	Fenech Adami Gonzi
7		Eddie Fenech Adami (born 1934)	2004	4 April 2004	4 April 2009	5 years	Nationalist Party	Gonzi
8		George Abela (born 1948)	2009	4 April 2009	4 April 2014	5 years	Labour Party	Gonzi Muscat
9		Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (born 1958)	2014	4 April 2014	4 April 2019	5 years	Labour Party	Muscat
10		George Vella (born 1942)	2019	4 April 2019	4 April 2024	5 years	Labour Party	Muscat Abela
11		Myriam Spiteri Debono (born 1952)	2024	4 April 2024	Incumbent	219 days	Labour Party	Abela

Timeline

Standards

• 
  Royal standard
• 
  Governor-General's standard
• 
  Presidential standard

See also

• List of governors of Malta
• List of prime ministers of Malta

External links

• World Statesmen – Malta
• Rulers.org – Malta