The Republic of Malta and how it's governed

The Republic of Malta is the country’s official name, and the ribbon on the Malta coat of arms spells it out in Maltese, ‘Repubblika ta’ Malta’. Behind it sits a political system as compact as the country itself, but with every piece in place, namely a president, a government, a parliament and a single tier of local councils. Here’s how it works and, more usefully, where you can see it on your trip.

A parliamentary republic since 1974

Independence came on 21 September 1964, together with the constitution that still applies. On 13 December 1974, according to the Maltese government’s page on Dom Mintoff, it abolished the British monarchy and founded a republic within the Commonwealth. In the EU’s description, parliament has a single chamber, the presidency is mostly ceremonial, and it’s the prime minister who governs. For British visitors used to Westminster, the shape will look familiar, minus the monarch and the upper house.

Who runs Malta in 2026?

The head of state is President Myriam Spiteri Debono, who took office on 4 April 2024 as the republic’s eleventh president, for a five-year term. The government is led by Prime Minister Robert Abela of the Labour Party, in office since 13 January 2020. According to Spain’s foreign ministry country profile from June 2026, Abela won the snap general election held on 30 May 2026.

Parliament is the House of Representatives, a single chamber with 65 base seats and currently 79 MPs. Below central government there are no counties or regions, just 68 local councils, 54 on Malta and 14 on Gozo, which match the places listed in towns and villages in Malta.

Where to see power in Valletta

This is where politics turns into sightseeing. The Grandmaster’s Palace was the Knights’ first building in the new capital, the governor’s palace under the British and the seat of the first constitutional parliament in 1921. Today it houses the Office of the President of Malta, and even so the visit opens up more than 85% of its footprint, with the Armoury and the painted cycle of the Great Siege. Tickets cost €12. On some days the state rooms shut, including all of 26 October 2026 for the Budget, and only the Armoury stays open.

City Gate and the parliament building have a guide of their own, Valletta City Gate and Parliament. Everything else in the capital is in Valletta.

Symbols of the state

The flag is defined by the constitution, with two vertical bands, white and red, and the George Cross in the white canton. The state emblem is a shield bearing that flag, a gold mural crown with eight turrets, five of them visible, representing the fortifications and denoting a city-state, olive and palm branches, and a ribbon with the republic’s name. The president has had a flag of his or her own since 1988, blue with the emblem and a gold Maltese Cross in each corner. The anthem is L-Innu Malti, written by Dun Karm Psaila and set to music by Robert Sammut, and the national symbol is the Maltese Cross.

The dates the republic celebrates

Five of the fourteen public holidays are national days, and each marks a step towards today’s state. 7 June, Sette Giugno, recalls the 1919 uprising against British rule, which Heritage Malta ties to scarce, expensive bread and to new taxes. 8 September marks the end of the Great Siege of 1565. 21 September, independence in 1964. 13 December, the republic of 1974. And 31 March, Freedom Day, remembers 1979, when the final British base shut, when Malta established its status of non-aligned neutrality. If you’re travelling on those dates, I’d check opening times first, since public holidays can mean reduced services and transport.

Don’t confuse the republic with the Order of Malta

This is where people get muddled. The Sovereign Order of Malta, the Knights, is not the government of Malta and isn’t based on the island. According to its own website, its seat is the Magistral Palace at Via Condotti 68 in Rome, it has had 81 Grand Masters and it holds diplomatic relations with 118 countries. It ruled the islands from 1530 to 1798 and founded Valletta, but today it’s a separate body from the Maltese state. Its story on the island, and what it left behind, is in the Knights of Malta.