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Malta

Monthly Updates

January 2023

Parliament passed a bill introducing an anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment of the Standards Commissioner. The bill passed with 41 votes in favour and 35 against in its final reading. The Standards Commissioner is responsible for investigating ethical complaints against MPs. The bill amends a requirement in the Standards in Public Life Act for the appointment to be agreed in Parliament by a two-thirds majority vote. The amendment allows for appointment by a simple majority if two initial votes fail to reach a two-thirds majority. Parliament has not yet succeeded in appointing a replacement for George Hyzler, who left the seat vacant. The government’s proposed replacement, former Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi, was blocked by the opposition. The leader of the Nationalist Party, Bernard Grech, has accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of amending the law to push through his candidate. The use of the anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment of other high-level positions, including the Presidency and the Chief Justice, had been recommended by the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s rule of law body.

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GSoD Indices Data 2012-2021

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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
516 870
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Robert Abela (since 2020)
Head of government party
Labour Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Single Transferable Vote
Women in lower or single chamber
27.9%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
2.03
Head of state
President George Vella
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
14/11/2018
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
77.71%
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Early Warning System BETA

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Low risk of democratic breakdown Low risk of democratic breakdown (BETA)
Low risk of democratic backsliding Low risk of democratic backsliding (BETA)

Attributes Over Time

Representative government neutral Representative Government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
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Jan
Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Fundamental rights
Sep 2022
Oct
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Dec
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Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Checks on government
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
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Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Impartial administration
Sep 2022
Oct
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Feb 2023
Representative government neutral Participatory engagement
Sep 2022
Oct
Nov
Dec
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Feb 2023

GSoD Indices

Regime type
0 10