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Malta

https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/

June 2023

Reforms allow abortion in case mother’s life is at stake

Parliament voted to slightly ease the ban on abortion so that abortions can be performed in cases where the mother’s life is at stake. According to the bill, proposed by the ruling Labour Party, the decision to terminate a pregnancy is now possible with the sign-off of three doctors, except in the most urgent cases. The opposition supported the bill only after last minute changes which weakened the ambition from allowing abortion in cases of risks to the mother’s health to only cover cases of risks to life. Abortion rights campaigners have condemned the amendments as “unworkable,” which they say fall short of protecting women’s reproductive rights in practice, as performing an abortion in all other cases remains a criminal offense.

Sources: The Guardian (1), The Guardian (2), Amnesty International,  Euronews, Malta Independent, Doctors for Choice Malta

March 2023

Case highlights impartiality in state broadcasting

Malta’s Broadcasting Authority (BA) has upheld an impartiality complaint filed against ONE, a media outlet owned by the ruling Labour party, in a significant case in the regulation of party-owned news stations. The Broadcasting Authority ruled against ONE’s decision not to report on ADPD – The Green Party’s press conference about a recent hospital privatisation scandal, and concluded that ONE had been “systematically failing to broadcast ADPD statements in the past months”. It is the first time that BA has found that a station owned by a political party committed a violation by not reporting another party’s perspective. ADPD – The Green Party called on BA to issue directives that would ensure improved media impartiality. The case follows a recent Constitutional Court ruling upholding a judge’s finding in July 2022 that the national broadcaster PBS had failed to treat the National Party impartially by hindering the impact of a political advertisement.

Sources: Times of Malta (1), Times of Malta (2), Times of Malta (3), Malta Independent, ADPD – The Green Party

January 2023

Parliament passes changes to the appointment of top anti-corruption official

Parliament passed a bill introducing an anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment of the Standards Commissioner. The bill passed with 41 votes in favour and 35 against in its final reading. The Standards Commissioner is responsible for investigating ethical complaints against MPs. The bill amends a requirement in the Standards in Public Life Act for the appointment to be agreed in Parliament by a two-thirds majority vote. The amendment allows for appointment by a simple majority if two initial votes fail to reach a two-thirds majority. Parliament has not yet succeeded in appointing a replacement for George Hyzler, who left the seat vacant. The government’s proposed replacement, former Chief Justice Joseph Azzopardi, was blocked by the opposition. The leader of the Nationalist Party, Bernard Grech, has accused Prime Minister Robert Abela of amending the law to push through his candidate. The use of the anti-deadlock mechanism for the appointment of other high-level positions, including the Presidency and the Chief Justice, had been recommended by the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s rule of law body.

Sources: Times of Malta, Malta Independent (1), Malta Independent (2), Council of Europe Venice Commission

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Global ranking per category of democratic performance in 2023

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Representation
43/173
Rights
28/173
Rule of Law
40/173
Participation
61/173
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Basic Information

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Population Tooltip
516 870
System of government
Parliamentary system
Head of government
Prime Minister Robert Abela (since 2020)
Head of government party
Labour Party
Electoral system for lower or single chamber
Single Transferable Vote
Women in lower or single chamber
27.9%
Women in upper chamber
Not applicable
Last legislative election
2022
Effective number of political parties Tooltip
2.03
Head of state
President Myriam Spiteri Debono
Selection process for head of state
Indirect election (assembly)
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) date
31/01/2024
Latest Universal Periodic Review (UPR) percentage of recommendations supported
77.71% (2018)
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Human Rights Treaties

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State Party State party
Signatory Signatory
No Action No action
United Nations Human Right Treaties
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
State Party
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
State Party
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
State Party
Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women
State Party
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment
State Party
Convention on the Rights of the Child
State Party
International Convention on Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
No Action
International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance 
State Party
International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
State Party
International Labour Organisation Treaties
Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention
State Party
Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention
State Party
Equal Remuneration Convention
State Party
Abolition of Forced Labour Convention
State Party
Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention
State Party
Convention concerning Minimum Age for Admission to Employment
State Party
Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention
State Party
Regional Treaties
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
State Party
in
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Performance by category over the last 6 months

Representation neutral Representation
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Representation neutral Rule of law
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Representation neutral Participation
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Global State of Democracy Indices

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Explore the indices
Representation
Representation
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/1
high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rights
Rights
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Rule of Law
Rule of Law
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4
Participation
Participation
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high 0.7-1.0
mid 0.4-0.7
low 0.0-0.4

Factors of Democratic Performance Over Time

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