List of heads of state of Malta

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This is a list of the heads of state of Malta, from the foundation of the State of Malta in 1964 to the present day.

From 1964 to 1974 the head of state under the Malta Independence Act 1964 was the Monarch, who was the same person as the Monarch of the United Kingdom and of the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch was represented in Malta by a Governor-General. Malta became a republic under the Constitution of 1974 and the monarch and Governor-General were replaced by a ceremonial President.

Monarchs (1964–1974)

The succession to the throne of Malta was the same as the succession to the throne of the United Kingdom, governed by the Act of Settlement 1701.

Monarch Reign Royal House Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Reign start Reign end Duration
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 21 September 1964 13 December 1974 10 years, 83 days House of Windsor Borġ Olivier
Mintoff

Governors-General

The Governor-General was the representative of the monarch in Malta and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Malta without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.

Status
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
Governor-General Term of office Monarch(s) Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1 Sir Maurice Dorman
(1902–1993)		 21 September 1964 4 July 1971 6 years, 286 days Elizabeth II Borġ Olivier
Mintoff
2 Sir Anthony Mamo
(1909–2008)		 4 July 1971 13 December 1974 3 years, 162 days Elizabeth II Mintoff

President of Malta

Under the Constitution, the first constitution of the Republic of Malta, the President replaced the monarch as ceremonial head of state. The President was elected by Parliament for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the President of President is temporarily vacant, and until a new President is appointed, and whenever the holder of the office is absent from Malta or on vacation or is for any reason unable to perform the functions conferred upon him by this Constitution, those functions shall be performed by such person as the Prime Minister, after consultation with the Leader of the Opposition, may appoint or, if there is no person in Malta so appointed and able to perform those functions, by the Chief Justice, served as Acting President.

Status
  Denotes Acting President
President Term of office Political party
(at time of election)		 Prime Minister(s)
# Portrait Name Took office Left office Duration
1 Sir Anthony Mamo
(1909–2008)		 13 December 1974 27 December 1976 2 years, 14 days Independent Mintoff
2 Anton Buttigieg
(1912–1983)		 27 December 1976 27 December 1981 5 years Labour Party Mintoff
Albert Hyzler
(1916–1993)		 27 December 1981 15 February 1982 50 days Labour Party Mintoff
3 Agatha Barbara
(1923–2002)		 15 February 1982 15 February 1987 5 years Labour Party Mintoff
Mifsud Bonnici
Paul Xuereb
(1923–1994)		 15 February 1987 4 April 1989 2 years, 48 days Labour Party Mifsud Bonnici
Fenech Adami
4 Ċensu Tabone
(1913–2012)		 4 April 1989 4 April 1994 5 years Nationalist Party Fenech Adami
5 Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
(1932–)		 4 April 1994 4 April 1999 5 years Nationalist Party Fenech Adami
Sant
Fenech Adami
6 Guido de Marco
(1931–2010)		 4 April 1999 4 April 2004 5 years Nationalist Party Fenech Adami
Gonzi
7 Eddie Fenech Adami
(1934–)		 4 April 2004 4 April 2009 5 years Nationalist Party Gonzi
8 George Abela
(1948–)		 4 April 2009 4 April 2014 5 years Labour Party Gonzi
Muscat
9 Marie Louise Coleiro Preca
(1958–)		 4 April 2014 Incumbent 1 years, 26 days
(as of 30 April 2015)		 Labour Party Muscat

Standards

Living former heads of state

Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1964–1974 Queen of Malta 21 April 1926
Ugo Mifsud Bonnici 1994–1999 President of Malta 8 November 1932
Eddie Fenech Adami 2004–2009 President of Malta 7 February 1934
George Abela 2009–2014 President of Malta 22 April 1948

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