Malta
House of Representatives
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Political system
Political systems: Presidential, Parliamentary, Presidential-Parliamentary, Monarchy, Communist, Transitional.
View field in the data dictionary -
Parliamentary system
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Structure of parliament
Structure of parliament: Unicameral, bicameral
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Unicameral
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IPU membership
Current membership status
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Yes
Data on women
Information on the current and historical representation of women in the parliament. Consult the 'Elections' tab to see how women have fared in elections or renewals.
Current representation
Women's representation in the current parliament or chamber
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Current number of members
Number of members who currently hold seats in parliament. May be lower or higher than the statutory number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
79
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Women
The number of female parliamentarians who currently hold seats in parliament.
View field in the data dictionary -
23
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Percentage of women
Calculated by dividing the current number of women by the current number of members.
View field in the data dictionary -
29.1%
Speaker
No information available
Secretary general
- Secretary General
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Eleanor Scerri (Female)
Data on age at the start of the legislature
Number of members, by age (2022-05)
18 - 20 | 21 - 30 | 31 - 40 | 41 - 45 | 46 - 50 | 51 - 60 | 61 - 70 | 71 - 80 | 81 - 90 | 91 and over | Totals per gender | |
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Male | 0 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 51 |
Female | 1 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 |
Totals per age interval | 1 | 6 | 20 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 |
Total <= 45: 36 | Total >= 46: 34 |
Age at the last election or renewal | Overall | Male | Female |
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10.0% | 2.9% | 7.1% | |
38.6% | 23% | 15.7% | |
51.4% | 30% | 21.4% |
Reserved seats and quotas
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There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups
Reserved seats are a means to ensure the parliamentary representation of certain groups in society.
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No
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Electoral quota for women
Quotas to promote gender-balanced representation in parliament
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Yes
Notes:
- 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.
- The up to 12 additional seats are filled by unsuccessful candidates belonging to the underrepresented sex who won the highest number of votes at the last election. If there are not enough unsuccessful candidates, the House of Representatives co-opts member(s) to fill any remaining additional 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.
* 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 group includes people who identified as gender neutral in their official documentation.
Sources: Act No. XX of 2021 (https://legislation.mt/eli/act/2021/20/eng)
First woman in parliament
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Year of first woman in parliament
Year in which the first woman entered parliament
View field in the data dictionary -
1966
Notes: 1966: A woman was elected in 1947, prior to independence
First woman speaker
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Year of first woman speaker
Date at which, for the first time in the country's parliamentary history, a woman became Presiding Officer of Parliament or of one of its Houses.
View field in the data dictionary -
1996
Women’s suffrage
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Date of independence
For countries that become independent after 1940.
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1964
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Women’s right to vote
Year in which women obtained the right to vote. More than one year may be displayed depending on the status of the right: restricted or universal and changes in status.
View field in the data dictionary -
1947
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Restricted or universal suffrage
Suffrage: Restricted or Universal
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Universal
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Women's right to stand for election
Year in which women obtained the right to stand for election. More than one year may be displayed based on the status of the right: restricted or universal and shifts to the status.
View field in the data dictionary -
1947
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Restricted or universal
Stand for Election : Restricted or Universal
View field in the data dictionary -
No information available
Women's caucus
Women's caucuses or parliamentary groups that bring together women parliamentarians to strengthen cooperation and amplify their voices. For other parliamentary bodies or committees that have a specific mandate to address gender equality matters, see the ‘Specialized body – Gender equality’ tab.
There is currently no women's caucus in this chamber.