President of Malta Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids President of Malta President ta' Malta
Presidential standard
Coat of arms of the Republic of Malta
Incumbent Myriam Spiteri Debono since 4 April 2024
Style	Her Excellency
Residence	San Anton Palace
Appointer	House of Representatives
Term length	Five years non-renewable
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Malta (1964)
Inaugural holder	Sir Anthony Mamo
Formation	13 December 1974; 50 years ago (1974-12-13)
Succession	Line of succession
Salary	€71,033 annually
Website	https://president.gov.mt/

San Anton Palace, one of the official homes of the President of Malta, seen in 2014.

The President of Malta (in Maltese: President ta' Malta) is the official head of state for the country of Malta. This important role is chosen by the House of Representatives of Malta, which is Malta's parliament. The President serves for five years and promises to protect and defend the Constitution of Malta.

The President has a role in all three main parts of the government: the law-making body (Parliament), the courts (judiciary), and the executive branch (which carries out laws). While the President officially holds executive power, the Prime Minister actually uses this power in daily tasks.

Becoming President: How the Office Started
Who Can Be President?
Taking the Oath of Office
What Happens if the President is Away?
What Does the President Do?
Where Does the President Live and Work?
The President's Flag
When Does a President Leave Office?
Images for kids
See also

Becoming President: How the Office Started

The job of President of Malta began on December 13, 1974. On this date, Malta became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations. Before this, Queen Elizabeth II was Malta's head of state. The last person to hold the title of Governor-General, Sir Anthony Mamo, became the very first President of Malta.

Who Can Be President?

To become President, a person must meet certain requirements. You cannot be appointed President if:

You are not a citizen of Malta.
You are or have been a chief justice or another judge in the higher courts.
You are not allowed to hold any public office according to Malta's Constitution.

Taking the Oath of Office

Before someone can officially start their job as President, they must take an oath. This oath is a special promise made in front of the House of Representatives of Malta.

The oath says: I, (name of the person), solemnly swear/affirm that I will faithfully execute the office of President (perform the functions of the President) of Malta, and will, to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Malta. (So help me God).

What Happens if the President is Away?

If the President is out of Malta, on holiday, or cannot do their job for any reason, someone else steps in. The Prime Minister chooses this person after talking with the leader of the opposition party. If no one has been chosen yet, the Speaker of the House of Representatives takes on the President's duties.

The President's term is five years. However, the Constitution says that the President stays in office even after five years if Parliament has not yet chosen a new one. This continues until at least two-thirds of the House of Representatives agrees on a new President.

What Does the President Do?

The President has many important duties and powers:

The President officially signs new laws to make them valid.
The President can end the term of the House of Representatives of Malta. This happens if the Prime Minister asks for it, or if the government loses a vote of no confidence.
The President chooses the Prime Minister. This decision is based on the situation in the Maltese parliament.
The President appoints most members of important government bodies. They do this with the Prime Minister's agreement.
The President welcomes ambassadors from other countries.
The President can grant a pardon to people who have been found guilty of crimes. They can also reduce or cancel criminal sentences. This is done based on advice from the Cabinet.
The President is the head of the Commission for the Administration of Justice of Malta. This group oversees the country's courts.
The President is also the head of Malta's national honours system.
The President leads the Malta Community Chest Fund. This is a charity that helps other charities and people in need. The President's spouse is the deputy leader of this fund.
The President approves the use of foreign honours, awards, and decorations in Malta. No noble title or award can be used in Malta unless the President approves it. The names of those approved are published in the official Government Gazette.

A book called Il-Manwal tal-President tar-Repubblika (The Manual of the President of the Republic) explains the President's role in more detail. It was written by former President Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.

Where Does the President Live and Work?

The main office for the President is the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta. The President also has other official homes:

San Anton Palace in Attard is an official residence and often used as an office.
Verdala Palace in Buskett is used as a summer residence.

The President's Flag

Before December 12, 1988, Presidents of Malta used the national flag as their own special flag. On that date, a new official flag for the President was created. This flag is flown at the President's homes and offices. It is also displayed whenever the President is present at an event.

When Does a President Leave Office?

The President's job becomes vacant (empty) in a few situations:

If the President decides to resign.
After five years from the day they started their term.
If at least two-thirds of the House of Representatives of Malta votes to remove the President. This can happen if the President cannot do their job (due to health or other reasons) or if they behave improperly.
If the President passes away while in office.