List of heads of state of Malta
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This is a list of 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. The Queen 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 a President of Malta who is indirectly elected.
Queen of Malta (1964–1974)
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–) |
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
No. | Portrait | Governor-General (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Monarch | Prime Minister | ||
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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 | Elizabeth II | Mintoff |
5 July 1971 | 13 December 1974 |
Presidents of Malta (1974–present)
Under the Constitution of Malta as amended in 1974, the position of President of Malta replaced the Monarch as head of state. The position of President is elected by Parliament for a five-year term. 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 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.
- Status
No. | Portrait | President (Birth–Death) |
Elected | Term of office | Political party | Prime Minister | ||
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Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
style="background:Template:Independent politician/meta/color; color:black;"| 1 | ![]() |
Sir Anthony Mamo (1909–2008) |
1974 | 13 December 1974 | 27 December 1976 | 2 years, 14 days | Independent | Mintoff |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 2 | ![]() |
Anton Buttigieg (1912–1983) |
1976 | 27 December 1976 | 27 December 1981 | 5 years | Labour Party | Mintoff |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| — | ![]() |
Albert Hyzler (1916–1993) |
— | 27 December 1981 | 15 February 1982 | 50 days | Labour Party | Mintoff |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 3 | ![]() |
Agatha Barbara (1923–2002) |
1982 | 15 February 1982 | 15 February 1987 | 5 years | Labour Party | Mintoff Mifsud Bonnici |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| — | ![]() |
Paul Xuereb (1923–1994) |
— | 15 February 1987 | 4 April 1989 | 2 years, 48 days | Labour Party | Mifsud Bonnici Fenech Adami |
style="background:Template:Nationalist Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 4 | ![]() |
Ċensu Tabone (1913–2012) |
1989 | 4 April 1989 | 4 April 1994 | 5 years | Nationalist Party | Fenech Adami |
style="background:Template:Nationalist Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 5 | ![]() |
Ugo Mifsud Bonnici (born 1932) |
1994 | 4 April 1994 | 4 April 1999 | 5 years | Nationalist Party | Fenech Adami Sant Fenech Adami |
style="background:Template:Nationalist Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 6 | ![]() |
Guido de Marco (1931–2010) |
1999 | 4 April 1999 | 4 April 2004 | 5 years | Nationalist Party | Fenech Adami Gonzi |
style="background:Template:Nationalist Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 7 | ![]() |
Eddie Fenech Adami (born 1934) |
2004 | 4 April 2004 | 4 April 2009 | 5 years | Nationalist Party | Gonzi |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 8 | George Abela (born 1948) |
2009 | 4 April 2009 | 4 April 2014 | 5 years | Labour Party | Gonzi Muscat | |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 9 | ![]() |
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca (born 1958) |
2014 | 4 April 2014 | 4 April 2019 | 5 years | Labour Party | Muscat |
style="background:Template:Labour Party (Malta)/meta/color; color:white;"| 10 | ![]() |
George Vella (born 1942) |
2019 | 4 April 2019 | Incumbent (Term ends on 4 April 2024) |
5 years, 145 days | Labour Party | Muscat Abela |
Standards
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Royal Standard
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Governor-General's Standard
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Presidential Standard
Living former heads of state
As of 4 April 2019[update] there are five living former Maltese Heads of State:
Image | Name | Term/Reign | Office | Date of birth |
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Elizabeth II | 1964–1974 | Queen of Malta | 21 April 1926 |
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Ugo Mifsud Bonnici | 1994–1999 | President of Malta | 8 November 1932 |
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Eddie Fenech Adami | 2004–2009 | President of Malta | 7 February 1934 |
George Abela | 2009–2014 | President of Malta | 22 April 1948 | |
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Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca | 2014–2019 | President of Malta | 7 December 1958 |