The prime minister of Malta () is the head of government, which is the highest official of Malta. The Prime Minister chairs Cabinet meetings, and selects its ministers to serve in their respective portfolios. The Prime Minister holds office by virtue of their ability to command the confidence of the Parliament, as such they sit as Member of Parliament.
The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, in doing so, the President is of the opinion that the appointed individual is the most able to command the majority of the House of Representatives; typically, this individual is the leader of a political party or coalition of parties that hold the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives.
Fourteen people have served as prime minister of Malta since the office was established in 1921. The post did not exist in the period between 1933 and 1947 and also in the period between 1958 and 1962. Joseph Howard was the inaugural holder of the role, while Robert Abela is the incumbent. As of 2022, there have been 5 Nationalist Party prime ministers, 6 Labour Party prime ministers, 2 Political Union-affiliated prime ministers, 1 Constitutionalist prime minister and one Workers Party-affiliated prime minister.
List of officeholders Political parties
Portrait Name Term of office Political party Elected Cabinet(s) Took office Left office Time in office 1 Joseph Howard 26 October 1921 13 October 1923 Political Union 1921 Howard 2 Francesco Buhagiar 13 October 1923 22 September 1924 Political Union — Buhagiar 3 Ugo Pasquale Mifsud 22 September 1924 1 August 1927 Nationalist Party 1924 Mifsud I 4 Lord Strickland 9 August 1927 21 June 1932 Constitutional Party 1927 Strickland Sir Ugo Pasquale Mifsud 21 June 1932 2 November 1933 Nationalist Party 1932 Mifsud II Office Abolished (2 November 1933 – 4 November 1947) 5 Paul Boffa 4 November 1947 26 September 1950 Labour Party 1947 Boffa I Workers Party — Boffa II 6 Enrico Mizzi 26 September 1950 20 December 1950 Nationalist Party 1950 Mizzi 7 Giorgio Borġ Olivier 20 December 1950 11 March 1955 Nationalist Party — Olivier I 1951 Olivier II 1953 Olivier III 8 Dom Mintoff 11 March 1955 26 April 1958 Labour Party 1955 Mintoff I Office Abolished (26 April 1958 – 5 March 1962) Giorgio Borġ Olivier 5 March 1962 21 June 1971 Nationalist Party 1962 Olivier IV 1966 Olivier V Dom Mintoff 21 June 1971 22 December 1984 Labour Party 1971 Mintoff II 1976 Mintoff III 1981 Mintoff IV 9 Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici 22 December 1984 12 May 1987 Labour Party — Bonnici 10 Eddie Fenech Adami 12 May 1987 28 October 1996 Nationalist Party 1987 Adami I 1992 Adami II 11 Alfred Sant 28 October 1996 6 September 1998 Labour Party 1996 Sant Eddie Fenech Adami 6 September 1998 23 March 2004 Nationalist Party 1998 Adami III 2003 Adami IV–Gonzi I 12 Lawrence Gonzi 23 March 2004 11 March 2013 Nationalist Party — 2008 Gonzi II 13 Joseph Muscat 11 March 2013 12 January 2020 Labour Party 2013 Muscat I 2017 Muscat II–Abela I 14 Robert Abela 12 January 2020 Incumbent Labour Party — 2022 Abela II 2026 Abela III
Timeline
See also Prime Minister of Malta President of Malta Government of Malta House of Representatives of Malta
Notes
References