Malta
House of Representatives
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections
Background
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
26.03.2022
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
20.02.2022
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Early election
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
79
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal
Voter turnout
Registration
Number of people registered to vote
355,075
Votes
Number of people who actually voted
304,050
Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
85.63%
Results
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
The Labour Party (LP), led by Prime Minister Robert Abela, won a third consecutive term in office, defeating the Nationalist Party (PN), led by Mr. Bernard Grech. Due to the new gender mechanism, a total of 22 women were elected to the House of Representatives, which now comprises 79 members, up from 68 (see note). The percentage of women increased to 27.84% (up from 15.38% in 2017). The new voting age, which was lowered from 18 to 16 years old in May 2018, was applied for the first time in the 2022 elections.
Prime Minister Abela, son of former President George Abela, succeeded Mr. Joseph Muscat (LP) who resigned in January 2020. The country’s economy remained stable despite the global COVID-19 pandemic. The country also saw record low unemployment. On 20 February 2022, Prime Minister Abela asked President George Vella to dissolve parliament in view of early elections to be held on 26 March – nearly three months earlier than constitutionally required.
Note:
The statutory number of seats in the House of Representatives is 65. Two seats were created following the general election in accordance with a corrective mechanism so that the number of seats won by each party reflects the number of votes they obtained. Twelve seats for women were added in accordance with the Constitution of Malta and the General Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act No. XX of 2021). See the note on the distribution of seats according to sex below.
Prime Minister Abela, son of former President George Abela, succeeded Mr. Joseph Muscat (LP) who resigned in January 2020. The country’s economy remained stable despite the global COVID-19 pandemic. The country also saw record low unemployment. On 20 February 2022, Prime Minister Abela asked President George Vella to dissolve parliament in view of early elections to be held on 26 March – nearly three months earlier than constitutionally required.
Note:
The statutory number of seats in the House of Representatives is 65. Two seats were created following the general election in accordance with a corrective mechanism so that the number of seats won by each party reflects the number of votes they obtained. Twelve seats for women were added in accordance with the Constitution of Malta and the General Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act No. XX of 2021). See the note on the distribution of seats according to sex below.
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
2
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
55.7%
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
No
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
1
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Labour Party (LP)
Parties or coalitions winning seats
| Political group | Total | Elected | Gender mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labour Party (LP) | 44 | 38 | 6 |
| Nationalist Party (PN) | 35 | 29 | 6 |
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
63
Number of women elected
4
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
5.06%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
A total of 67 MPs were elected at the March 2022 election, of which four (6%) were women. After the casual elections* held on 7 and 12 April 2022, 10 out of the 67 members (14.9%) were women.
- In accordance with the Constitution of Malta and the General Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act No. XX of 2021, enacted by the President on 20 April 2021), the number of MPs must increase by up to 12 if less than 40 per cent of the MPs that are returned at a given general election and subsequent casual elections** belong to “the underrepresented sex”*** as defined in the Act.
- Consequently, 12 more women were added, bringing the total number of members in the new legislature to 79, of whom 22 were women (excluding the male Speaker who was re-elected on 7 May 2022).
* See the Note on the parties or coalitions winning seats.
** These measures will remain in force for 20 years from the date on which they come into force, unless they are revoked or re-enacted (with or without modification) by means of an Act of Parliament according to the provisions of the Maltese Constitution.
*** The group includes people who identified as gender neutral in their official documentation.
- In accordance with the Constitution of Malta and the General Elections (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act No. XX of 2021, enacted by the President on 20 April 2021), the number of MPs must increase by up to 12 if less than 40 per cent of the MPs that are returned at a given general election and subsequent casual elections** belong to “the underrepresented sex”*** as defined in the Act.
- Consequently, 12 more women were added, bringing the total number of members in the new legislature to 79, of whom 22 were women (excluding the male Speaker who was re-elected on 7 May 2022).
* See the Note on the parties or coalitions winning seats.
** These measures will remain in force for 20 years from the date on which they come into force, unless they are revoked or re-enacted (with or without modification) by means of an Act of Parliament according to the provisions of the Maltese Constitution.
*** The group includes people who identified as gender neutral in their official documentation.
Other notes
Note on the parties or coalitions winning seats
- The statutory number of seats in the House of Representatives is 65. Two seats were created following the general election in accordance with a corrective mechanism so that the number of seats won by each party reflects the number of votes they obtained. The distribution of these 67 seats is shown in the “Elected” column above.
- The “Gender mechanism” column refers to the number of seats that were added (after casual elections*) in favour of a group defined in law as “the underrepresented sex” – in this case, women. (The mechanism is triggered if less than 40 per cent of the MPs that are returned at a general election and subsequent casual elections belong to one gender and/or identify as gender-neutral).
- The “Total” column refers to the final composition of parliament after applying the gender quota mechanism in accordance with Act No. XX of 2021.
* Candidates in general elections may contest no more than two districts. If they are elected in both, they must choose one district to represent after the elections. Seats vacated by candidates simultaneously elected in two districts are filled by "casual elections" prior to the first session of the House of Representatives.
- The statutory number of seats in the House of Representatives is 65. Two seats were created following the general election in accordance with a corrective mechanism so that the number of seats won by each party reflects the number of votes they obtained. The distribution of these 67 seats is shown in the “Elected” column above.
- The “Gender mechanism” column refers to the number of seats that were added (after casual elections*) in favour of a group defined in law as “the underrepresented sex” – in this case, women. (The mechanism is triggered if less than 40 per cent of the MPs that are returned at a general election and subsequent casual elections belong to one gender and/or identify as gender-neutral).
- The “Total” column refers to the final composition of parliament after applying the gender quota mechanism in accordance with Act No. XX of 2021.
* Candidates in general elections may contest no more than two districts. If they are elected in both, they must choose one district to represent after the elections. Seats vacated by candidates simultaneously elected in two districts are filled by "casual elections" prior to the first session of the House of Representatives.
Sources
House of Representatives (13.05.2022)
https://electoral.gov.mt/ElectionResults/General
https://www.parlament.mt/en/14th-leg/political-groups/
https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Government%20Gazette/Documents/2022/02/Government%20Gazette%20-...
https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2018/4/eng/pdf
https://timesofmalta.com/
https://www.aljazeera.com
https://www.politico.eu
https://www.independent.com.mt/
https://electoral.gov.mt/ElectionResults/General
https://www.parlament.mt/en/14th-leg/political-groups/
https://www.gov.mt/en/Government/DOI/Government%20Gazette/Documents/2022/02/Government%20Gazette%20-...
https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2018/4/eng/pdf
https://timesofmalta.com/
https://www.aljazeera.com
https://www.politico.eu
https://www.independent.com.mt/
Women Directly Elected
10
Women Other
12
New legislature
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
57
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
22
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
34
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
07.05.2022
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature
First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Angelo
Farrugia
(Male)
Date of election
07.05.2022