Leader of the Opposition (Malta)

Leader of the Opposition of the Republic of Malta
Coat of Arms of the Republic of Malta
File:JosephMuscat2008.jpg Incumbent Joseph Muscat since 1 October 2008
Style	The Honourable
Appointer	Edward Fenech Adami as the Head of State
Term length	General Elections are held every five years at a maximum, but may be held sooner. The Leader of the Opposition is by convention the leader of the second most powerful party in the House of Representatives. No term limits are imposed on the office.
Inaugural holder	Gerald Strickland
Formation	1921

The Leader of the Opposition of Malta is the leader of the second most powerful political party in Malta. The Leader of the Opposition is appointed by the President of Malta, with the President making his or her decision based on the situation within the Maltese parliament.

Ten people have served as Leader of the Opposition of Malta since the office was established in 1921. The post did not exist in the period between 1933 and 1947 or the period between 1958 and 1962.

The Leader of the Opposition is normally the leader of the largest party not within the government, which is usually the second largest party in the Maltese parliament. He or she is normally viewed as an alternative Prime Minister, and is a member of the Maltese parliament.

The current Leader of the Opposition is Joseph Muscat, he is a leader of the Labour Party.

List of Leaders of the Opposition of Malta

#		Name	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1		Gerald Strickland, 1st time	1921	1927	Constitutional Party
2		Ugo Pasquale Mifsud	1927	1932	Nationalist Party
		Gerald Strickland, 2nd time	1932	1933	Constitutional Party
Office Abolished
3		Enrico Mizzi	1947	1950	Nationalist Party
4		Dom Mintoff, 1st time	1950	1955	Malta Labour Party
5		Giorgio Borg Olivier, 1st time	1955	1958	Nationalist Party
Office Abolished
		Dom Mintoff, 2nd time	1962	1971	Malta Labour Party
		Giorgio Borg Olivier, 2nd time	1971	1977	Nationalist Party
6		Eddie Fenech Adami, 1st time	1977	1987	Nationalist Party
7		Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici	1987	1992	Malta Labour Party
8		Alfred Sant, 1st time	1992	1996	Malta Labour Party
		Eddie Fenech Adami, 2nd time	1996	1998	Nationalist Party
		Alfred Sant, 2nd time	1998	2008	Malta Labour Party
9		Charles Mangion	2008	2008	Malta Labour Party
10		Joseph Muscat	2008	Present	Labour Party