Jump to content

House of Representatives of Malta

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 80.77.192.247 (talk) at 21:47, 26 September 2010 (→Heads of Delegation and Other Backbenchers). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Politics of Malta
Republic
Government
Parliament
Judiciary
Political parties
Recent elections
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations

The House of Representatives (rendered as Kamra tad-Deputati in Maltese) is the unicameral legislature of Malta. Formally, the Parliament of Malta consists of the President of Malta and the House of Representatives.

The House currently has 69 members, elected for a five year term in thirteen five-seat electoral districts with a possibility of rewarding bonus members for the popular largest party which doesn't succeed in getting absolute majority of seats. The House is presided over by the Speaker of the House. The President of Malta is elected for a five year term by the House. Malta uses single transferable vote to elect its MPs s. Even though transferrable preferences should help third parties, since Independence the Maltese electorate has consistently voted for two dominant political parties and effectively created a two party system.

Parliament Building

Parliament is currently housed in the Grandmaster's Palace in Valletta.

In 2010, works commenced to build a new Parliament. The government's original proposal had been to build Parliament on the site of the former opera house site in Valletta. This was shelved after the footprint was deemed too small and instead the new Parliament building will be built in Freedom Square. The building will be built to designs of Renzo Piano and is expected to be completed by the end of the current Parliamentary term, that is not later than 2013.[1]

Standing Committees

In 1995, as a result of a series of intensive discussions between the parliamentary groups and the Speaker of the House, the Standing Orders of the House were amended so as to set up a number of Parliamentary Committees. The objective was that of increasing efficiency in the conduct of parliamentary work as well as that of providing additional fora for the carrying out of Parliament's scrutiny functions.

The Standing Orders make provision for six Standing Committees:

Latest elections

Main article: Maltese general election, 2008

Template:Maltese legislative election, 2008

Current Composition (11th Legislature since Independence)

For the Government: Nationalist Party

Cabinet

Ministers
Parliamentary Secretaries
  • Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism, The Environment and Culture - Mario de Marco
  • Parliamentary Secretary for Consumers, Fair Competition, Local Councils and Public Dialogue - ''vacant''
  • Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport - Clyde Puli
  • Parliamentary Secretary for Small business and Land - Jason Azzopardi
  • Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly and Community Care - Mario Galea

Parliamentary Assistants

  • Franco Debono - Parliamentary Assistant in the Office of the Prime Minister / Chairman Select Committee on re-codification and consolidaton of laws
  • Frederick Azzopardi - Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Gozo / Deputy Whip for the Government/ Deputy Chairman of Committees
  • Charlò Bonnici - Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Infrastructure
  • Philip Mifsud - Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Resources and Rural Affairs
  • Stephen Spiteri - Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Education
  • Robert Arrigo - Parliamentary Assistant in The Ministry of Finance
  • Beppe Fenech Adami - Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Peter Micallef - Parliamentary Assistant in the Ministry of Health
Chairmen of Parliamentary Standing and Select Committees
Heads of Delegation and Other Backbenchers

For the Opposition: Labour Party

Changes during the legislature

Casual elections

Following election from two districts

On 17 April 2008, casual elections were held in ten districts to fill twelve seats in the case of candidates who were returned from two districts.[3] The results were as follows:

Following vacancies arising

  • Shadow Minister for Health Karl Chircop passed away on October 12, 2008.[4] His vacated seat was filled through a casual election won by Gino Cauchi.
  • John Dalli resigned his post as Minister for Social Policy in order to take up his new role as European Commissioner for Health and Social Policy on 9 February 2010. His vacated seat was filled through a casual election won by Peter Micallef.

Co-options

  • Nationalist MP Michael Frendo has resigned from MP to take up the post of Speaker. Karl Gouder has been co-opted to the vacated seat.

Former Legislatures

References

  1. ^ http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090628/local/city-by-a-gentleman
  2. ^ http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsId=71796&newscategory=36
  3. ^ http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/elections/2008/General%20Elections/default1.asp
  4. ^ [1]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=House_of_Representatives_of_Malta&oldid=387198132"