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Constitution of Malta 1964, as amended to 2022
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishThe State shall promote the equal right of men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights and for this purpose shall take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination between the sexes by any person, organisation or enterprise;
… (Art. 14) - MalteseL-Istat għandu jippromwovi dritt ugwali ta’ rġiel u nisa li jgawdu d-drittijiet ekonomiċi, soċjali, kulturali, ċivili u politiċi kollha u għal dan il-għan għandu jieħu dawk il-miżuri li jkunu ndikati biex jelimina kull forma ta’ diskriminazzjoni bejn is-sessi, minn kull persuna, organizzazzjoni jew azjenda;
… (Art. 14)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishWhereas every person in Malta is entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever his race, place of origin, political opinions, colour, creed, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the public interest, to each and all of the following, namely –
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(b) freedom of conscience, of expression and of peaceful assembly and association;
… (Art. 32) - MalteseBilli kull persuna f’Malta hija intitolata għad-drittijiet u libertajiet fundamentali tal-individwu, jiġifieri, id-dritt, tkun xi tkun ir-razza, post ta’ oriġini, fehmiet politiċi, kulur, twemmin, sess, orjentazzjoni sesswali jew identità tal-ġeneru tagħha, iżda suġġett għar-rispett tad-drittijiet u l-libertajiet ta’ oħrajn u tal-interess pubbliku, għal kull waħda u kollha kemm huma dawn li ġejjin, jiġifieri-
…
(b) il-libertà ta’ kuxjenza, ta’ espressjoni u ta’ għaqda u assoċjazzjoni paċifika;
… (Art. 32)
Political Rights and Association
- English(1) Except with his own consent or by way of parental discipline no person shall be hindered in the enjoyment of his freedom of peaceful assembly and association, that is to say, his right peacefully to assemble freely and associate with other persons and in particular to form or belong to trade or other unions or associations for the protection of his interests.
… (Art. 42) - Maltese(1) Ħlief bil-kunsens tiegħu stess jew bħala dixxiplina tal-ġenituri ħadd ma għandu jiġi mfixkel fit-tgawdija tal-libertà tiegħu ta' għaqda u assoċjazzjoni paċifika, jiġifieri, id-dritt tiegħu li jingħaqad paċifikament u liberament u jassoċja ma' persuni oħra u b'mod partikolari li jifforma jew jappartjeni lil trade union jew unions jew assoċjazzjonijiet oħra għall-protezzjoni tal-interessi tiegħu.
… (Art. 42)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishSubject to the provisions of article 58 of this Constitution, a person shall be qualified to be registered as a voter for the election of members of the House of Representatives if, and shall not be qualified to be so registered unless –
(a) he is a citizen of Malta;
(b) he has attained the age of sixteen years; and
(c) he is resident in Malta and has during the eighteen months immediately preceding his registration been a resident for a continuous period of six months or for periods amounting in the aggregate to six months:
Provided that this paragraph shall not apply to a person who is ordinarily resident in Malta but has not been resident in Malta as required by this paragraph by reason of service abroad in the public service, including service in the offices referred to in sub-article (3) of article 124 of this Constitution, or by reason of service abroad in, or as a member of, a disciplined force as defined in article 47 of this Constitution. (Art. 57) - MalteseBla ħsara għad-disposizzjonijiet tal-artikolu 58 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni, persuna tkun kwalifikata biex tkun reġistrata bħala elettur għall-elezzjoni ta’ membri tal-Kamra tad-Deputati jekk tkun, u ma tkunx kwalifikata biex tkun hekk reġistrata jekk ma tkunx –
(a) ċittadin ta’ Malta;
(b) għalqet l-età ta’ sittax-il sena; u
(ċ) residenti f’Malta u matul it-tmintax-il xahar minnufih qabel ir-reġistrazzjoni tagħha hekk residenti għal perijodu kontinwu ta’ sitt xhur jew għal perijodi li jammontaw fit-total globali għal sitt xhur:
Iżda dan il-paragrafu ma japplikax għal persuna li tkun ordinarjament tirrisjedi f’Malta iżda ma tkunx tirrisjedi f’Malta kif meħtieġ b’dan il-paragrafu minħabba servizz barra minn Malta fis-servizz pubbliku, magħdud servizz fil-karigi msemmija fis-subartikolu (3) tal-artikolu 124 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni, jew minħabba servizz barra minn Malta f’korp, jew bħala membru ta’ korp, dixxiplinat kif imfisser fl-artikolu 47 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni. (Art. 57)
National level
- English
(1) If at a general election which is contested by two or more political parties and in which only candidates of two parties are elected or in the eventuality of an election result as provided for in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of the proviso to sub-article (1) of article 52 and in the event that the number of Members of Parliament of the under-represented sex, elected by virtue of article 52, inclusive of those members elected at a casual election in terms of the relevant regulations, is less than forty per cent (40%) of all the Members of Parliament, then the number of Members of Parliament shall increase by not more than twelve (12) Members of the under-represented sex:
Provided that the number of Members of Parliament of the under-represented sex elected by virtue of article 52 added to the members of the under-represented sex elected by virtue of this article shall not exceed forty per cent (40%) of the total number of elected Members of Parliament making up the House.
The candidates elected by virtue of this article are to be apportioned equally between the absolute majority party or the relative majority party and the minority party.
(2) Such candidate or candidates belonging to the underrepresented sex and who are candidates of the party or parties which shall be credited with the additional seats, and which were credited by the Electoral Commission at the last count with the highest or next higher number of votes without being elected, irrespective of the division in which such highest or next higher number of votes occur, shall be declared by the Electoral Commission as elected to fill the additional seats created by sub-article (1):
Provided that in the event that the number of candidates established under this article is not reached, following the application of the preceding sub-article, such candidates belonging to the underrepresented sex shall be declared by the Electoral Commission to be elected to fill the remaining additional seats created by this article who, being candidates of the party which is to be credited with the additional seats, were ranked on a national basis by the Electoral Commission with the highest or next higher number of percentage quota obtained on the basis of their respective final count vote before elimination in relation to the quota of the electoral division contested:
Provided further that in the event that the number of candidates established under this article is not reached as foreseen in this sub-article, the seats thereafter remaining vacant shall be filled by the co-option of a Member or Members by the House and such Member or Members shall be qualified to be elected as a Member of the House as established under article 53, shall not be subject to any disqualifications for membership of the House as provided under article 54 and shall belong to the under-represented sex.
(3) For the purpose of this article, elected and unelected candidates who are identified as gender-neutral persons in their official documentation, shall be counted with the under-represented sex.
(4) This article shall remain in force until the expiry of the period of twenty (20) years from the date of its coming into force, unless revoked or re-enacted with or without modification by means of an Act of Parliament according to the provisions of this Constitution. (Art. 52A) - Maltese
(1) Jekk f’elezzjoni ġenerali li tkun ikkontestata minn żewġ partiti politiċi jew aktar u li fiha l-kandidati ta’ żewġ partiti biss ikunu eletti jew f’każ ta’ riżultat ta’ elezzjoni kif provdut fis-subparagrafi (i) u (ii) tal-proviso tas-subartikolu (1) tal-artikolu 52 u fil-każ li n-numru ta’ Membri tal-Parlament tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat, elett bis-saħħa tal-artikolu 52, inkluż dawk il-membri eletti f’elezzjoni każwali skont ir-regolamenti rilevanti, huwa inqas minn erbgħin fil-mija (40%) tal-Membri kollha tal-Parlament, allura n-numru ta’ Membri tal Parlament għandu jiżdied b’mhux aktar minn tnax (12)-il Membru tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat:
Iżda n-numru ta’ Membri Parlamentari tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat elett bis-saħħa tal-artikolu 52 miżjud mal-membri tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat elett bis-saħħa ta’ dan l-artikolu ma għandux jaqbeż l-erbgħin fil-mija (40%) tan-numru totali ta’ Membri eletti tal-Parlament li jifforma l-Kamra.
Il-kandidati eletti bis-saħħa ta’ dan l-artikolu għandhom ikunu mqassma ugwalment bejn il-partit b’maġġoranza assoluta jew il partit b’maġġoranza relattiva u l-partit b’minoranza.
(2) Dak il-kandidat jew il-kandidati li jagħmlu parti mis-sess l-inqas rappreżentat u li jkunu kandidati tal-partit jew tal-partiti li għandhom jiġu akkreditati bis-siġġijiet addizzjonali, u li jkunu ġew akkreditati mill-Kummissjoni Elettorali fl-aħħar għadd bl-ogħla jew bin-numru ta’ voti li jmiss l-aktar għoli mingħajr ma jkunu ġew eletti, irrispettivament mid-distrett fejn jinkiseb dak l-ogħla jew in-numru ta’ voti li jmiss l-aktar għoli, għandhom jiġu ddikjarati mill-Kummissjoni Elettorali bħala eletti biex jimlew is-siġġijiet addizzjonali maħluqa mis-subartikolu (1):
Iżda f’każ li n-numru ta’ kandidati stabbiliti taħt dan l-artikolu ma jintlaħaqx, wara l-applikazzjoni tas-subartikolu preċedenti, għandhom ikunu ddikjarati eletti mill-Kummissjoni Elettorali biex jimlew il-bqija tas-siġġijiet addizzjonali maħluqa minn dan l-artikolu, dawk il-kandidati li jagħmlu parti mis-sess l-inqas rappreżentat, li jkunu kandidati tal-partiti li għandhom jiġu akkreditati bis-siġġijiet addizzjonali u li ġew gradati fuq bażi nazzjonali mill-Kummissjoni Elettorali bl-ogħla jew bin-numru li jmiss l-aktar għoli ta’ kwota perċentwali miksuba fuq il-bażi tal-għadd finali tal-vot rispettiv tagħhom, qabel l-eliminazzjoni, b’rabta mal-kwota tad-distrett elettorali kkontestat:
Iżda wkoll f’każ li n-numru ta’ kandidati stabbiliti taħt dan l-artikolu ma jintlaħaqx kif previst f’dan is-subartikolu, is-siġġijiet li jibqgħu vakanti għandhom jimtlew bl-għażla ta’ Membru jew Membri mill-Kamra u dak il-Membru jew Membri għandhom ikunu kwalifikati biex ikunu eletti bħala Membru tal-Kamra kif stabbilit taħt l-artikolu 53, ma għandhomx ikunu soġġetti għal ebda skwalifika għas-sħubija fil-Kamra kif provdut taħt l-artikolu 54 u għandhom jappartjenu għas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat.
(3) Għall-finijiet ta’ dan l-artikolu, kandidati eletti jew li ma jkunux ġew eletti li huma identifikati bħala newtrali fir-rigward tal-ġeneru fid-dokumentazzjoni uffiċjali, għandhom jingħaddu mas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat.
(4) Dan l-artikolu għandu jibqa’ fis-seħħ sal-iskadenza tal-perjodu ta’ għoxrin (20) sena mid-data li jidħol fis-seħħ, sakemm ma jiġix imħassar jew imdaħħal mill-ġdid bi jew mingħajr modifika permezz ta’ Att tal-Parlament skont id-dispożizzjonijiet ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni. (Art. 52A)
Electoral Bodies
- English...
(3) It shall be the duty of the Electoral Commission to suspend the election, either in all electoral divisions or in any one or more of such divisions, if it has reasonable ground to believe that illegal or corrupt practices or other offences connected with the elections have been committed or there has been foreign interference and such practices, offences or interference have so extensively prevailed or have been of such nature that they may reasonably be expected to affect the result of the election, in all or in any one or more of the electoral divisions.
... (Art. 56) - Maltese…
(3) Ikun id-dmir tal-Kummissjoni Elettorali li tissospendi l-elezzjoni, jew fid-distretti elettorali kollha jew f’xi wieħed jew iktar minn dawk id-distretti, jekk ikollha raġuni xierqa li temmen li jkunu saru attijiet illegali jew ta’ korruzzjoni jew reati oħra li għandhom x’jaqsmu mal-elezzjonijiet jew kien hemm indħil barrani u dawk l-attijiet, reati jew indħil ikunu pprevalew b’mod hekk estensiv jew ikunu ta’ dik ix-xorta li raġonevolment ikunu mistennija li jkollhom effett fuq ir-riżultat tal-elezzjoni, fid- distretti elettorali kollha jew f’xi wieħed jew iktar minnhom.
... (Art. 56)
Electoral Bodies
- English(1) There shall be an Electoral Commission for Malta.
…
(9) In the exercise of its functions under this Constitution the Electoral Commission shall not be subject to the direction or control of any other person or authority. (Art. 60) - Maltese(1) Għandu jkun hemm Kummissjoni Elettorali għal Malta.
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(9) Fl-eżerċizzju tal-funzjonijiet tagħha skont din il-Kostituzzjoni l-Kummissjoni Elettorali ma tkunx suġġetta għad-direzzjoni jew kontroll ta’ xi persuna jew awtorità oħra. (Art. 60)
Head of State
- English(1) There shall be a President of Malta who shall be appointed by Resolution supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House:
Provided that notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article(3)(a), if the Resolution is not supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House, the person occupying the office of the President of Malta shall, in any circumstance, remain in office until the Resolution is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House.
(2) A person shall not be qualified to be appointed to the office of President if –
(a) he is not a citizen of Malta; or
(b) he holds or has held the office of Chief Justice or other Judge of the Superior Courts; or
(c) he is not eligible for appointment to or to act in any public office in accordance with articles 109, 118 and 120 of this Constitution. (Art. 48) - Maltese(1) Għandu jkun hemm President ta’ Malta li għandu jiġi maħtur b’Riżoluzzjoni li jkollha favur tagħha l-voti ta’ mhux inqas minn żewġ terzi tal-membri kollha tal-Kamra:
Iżda illi minkejja d-dispożizzjoni tas-subartikolu (3)(a), jekk ir-Riżoluzzjoni ma jkollhiex favur tagħha il-voti ta’ mhux inqas minn żewġ terzi tal-membri kollha tal-Kamra, il-persuna li tkun tokkupa l-kariga ta’ President ta’ Malta għandha, fi kwalunkwe ċirkostanza, tibqa’ fil-kariga sakemm ir-Riżoluzzjoni jkollha favur tagħha l-voti ta’ mhux inqas minn żewġ terzi tal-membri kollha tal-Kamra.
(2) Persuna ma tistax tiġi maħtura fil-kariga ta' President jekk –
(a) ma tkunx ċittadin ta' Malta; jew
(b) ikollha jew kellha l-kariga ta' Prim Imħallef jew imħallef ieħor tal-Qorti Superjuri; jew
(ċ) ma tkunx eliġibbli għal ħatra jew biex taġixxi f'xi kariga pubblika skont l-artikoli 109, 118 u 120 ta' din il-Kostituzzjoni. (Art. 48)
Head of State
- English(1) The executive authority of Malta is vested in the President.
… (Art. 78) - Maltese(1) L-awtorità esekuttiva ta’ Malta hija fil-President.
… (Art. 78)
Government
- English(1) There shall be a Cabinet for Malta which shall consist of the Prime Minister and such number of other Ministers as may be appointed in accordance with article 80 of this Constitution.
(2) The Cabinet shall have the general direction and control of the Government of Malta and shall be collectively responsible therefor to Parliament. (Art. 79) - Maltese(1) Għandu jkun hemm Kabinett għal Malta li jkun magħmul mill-Prim Ministru u dak in-numru ta’ Ministri oħra li jistgħu jiġu maħtura skont l-artikolu 80 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni.
(2) Il-Kabinett ikollu d-direzzjoni ġenerali u l-kontroll tal-Gvern ta' Malta u jkun responsabbli kollettivament dwar hekk lejn il-Parlament. (Art. 79)
Government
- EnglishWherever there shall be occasion for the appointment of a Prime Minister, the President shall appoint as Prime Minister the member of the House of Representatives who, in his judgment, is best able to command the support of a majority of the members of that House and shall, acting in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister, appoint the other Ministers from among the members of the House of Representatives:
… (Art. 80) - MalteseKull meta jkun hemm lok għall-ħatra ta’ Prim Ministru, il-President għandu jaħtar bħala Prim Ministru l-membru tal-Kamra tad-Deputati li, fil-ġudizzju tiegħu, ikun l-aħjar li jkun jista’ jgawdi l-appoġġ tal-maġġoranza tal-membri tal-Kamra u għandu, waqt li jaġixxi skont il-parir tal-Prim Ministru, jaħtar lill-Ministri l-oħra minn fost il-membri tal-Kamra tad-Deputati:
… (Art. 80)
Legislature
- EnglishThere shall be a Parliament of Malta which shall consist of the President and a House of Representatives. (Art. 51)
- MalteseGħandu jkun hemm Parlament ta’ Malta li jkun magħmul mill-President u minn Kamra tad-Deputati. (Art. 51)
Legislature
- English
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the House of Representatives shall consist of such number of members, being an odd number and divisible by the number of electoral divisions, as Parliament shall from time to time by law determine. Such members shall be elected in the manner provided by or under any law for the time being in force in Malta in equal proportions from the electoral divisions referred to in article 56 of this Constitution, each division returning such number of members, being not less than five and not more than seven as Parliament shall from time to time by law determine; and such members shall be known as "Members of Parliament"
... (Art. 52) - Maltese
(1) Bla ħsara għad-disposizzjonijiet ta’ dan il-Kapitolu, il-Kamra tad-Deputati tkun magħmula minn dak in-numru ta’ membri, li jkun numru fard u li jkun diviżibbli bin-numru tad-distretti elettorali, li l-Parlament jista’ minn żmien għal żmien b’liġi jistabbilixxi. Dawk il-membri jiġu eletti bil-mod provdut minn jew skont xi liġi li għal dak iż-żmien tkun isseħħ f’Malta bi proporzjonijiet indaqs mid-distretti elettorali msemmija fl-artikolu 56 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni, billi kull distrett jeleġġi dak in-numru ta’ membri, li ma jkunx inqas minn ħamsa u mhux iktar minn sebgħa kif il-Parlament għandu minn żmien għal żmien jistabbilixxi; u dawk il-membri jkunu magħrufa bħala "Membri tal-Parlament"
... (Art. 52)
Legislature
- English
(1) If at a general election which is contested by two or more political parties and in which only candidates of two parties are elected or in the eventuality of an election result as provided for in sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of the proviso to sub-article (1) of article 52 and in the event that the number of Members of Parliament of the under-represented sex, elected by virtue of article 52, inclusive of those members elected at a casual election in terms of the relevant regulations, is less than forty per cent (40%) of all the Members of Parliament, then the number of Members of Parliament shall increase by not more than twelve (12) Members of the under-represented sex:
Provided that the number of Members of Parliament of the under-represented sex elected by virtue of article 52 added to the members of the under-represented sex elected by virtue of this article shall not exceed forty per cent (40%) of the total number of elected Members of Parliament making up the House.
The candidates elected by virtue of this article are to be apportioned equally between the absolute majority party or the relative majority party and the minority party.
... (Art 52A) - Maltese
(1) Jekk f’elezzjoni ġenerali li tkun ikkontestata minn żewġ partiti politiċi jew aktar u li fiha l-kandidati ta’ żewġ partiti biss ikunu eletti jew f’każ ta’ riżultat ta’ elezzjoni kif provdut fis-subparagrafi (i) u (ii) tal-proviso tas-subartikolu (1) tal-artikolu 52 u fil-każ li n-numru ta’ Membri tal-Parlament tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat, elett bis-saħħa tal-artikolu 52, inkluż dawk il-membri eletti f’elezzjoni każwali skont ir-regolamenti rilevanti, huwa inqas minn erbgħin fil-mija (40%) tal-Membri kollha tal-Parlament, allura n-numru ta’ Membri tal Parlament għandu jiżdied b’mhux aktar minn tnax (12)-il Membru tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat:
Iżda n-numru ta’ Membri Parlamentari tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat elett bis-saħħa tal-artikolu 52 miżjud mal-membri tas-sess l-inqas rappreżentat elett bis-saħħa ta’ dan l-artikolu ma għandux jaqbeż l-erbgħin fil-mija (40%) tan-numru totali ta’ Membri eletti tal-Parlament li jifforma l-Kamra.
Il-kandidati eletti bis-saħħa ta’ dan l-artikolu għandhom ikunu mqassma ugwalment bejn il-partit b’maġġoranza assoluta jew il partit b’maġġoranza relattiva u l-partit b’minoranza.
... (Art. 52A)
Legislature
- English
Subject to the provisions of article 54 of this Constitution, a person shall be qualified to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives if, and shall not be qualified to be so elected unless, that person has attained the age of eighteen years and he has the qualifications for registration as a voter for the election of members of the House of Representatives mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (c) of article 57 of this Constitution. (Art. 53)
- Maltese
Bla ħsara għad-disposizzjonijiet tal-artikolu 54 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni, persuna tkun kwalifikata biex tkun eletta bħala membru tal-Kamra tad-Deputati jekk ikollha, u ma tkunx kwalifikata biex tkun hekk eletta kemm-il darba ma jkollhiex l-età ta’ tmintax-il sena u l-kwalifiki għar-reġistrazzjoni bħala elettur għall-elezzjoni ta’ membri tal-Kamra tad-Deputati msemmija fil-paragrafi (a) u (ċ) tal-artikolu 57 ta’ din il-Kostituzzjoni. (Art. 53)
1
Constitution of Malta 1964, as amended to 2022 (English). According to Art. 5(1): "The National language of Malta is the Maltese language.”
3
Chapter IV on Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Individual