Incumbents
| Office | Office‑holder |
|---|---|
| President | George Vella (since 4 April 2019) |
| Prime Minister | Robert Abela (since 13 January 2020) |
| Leader of the Opposition | Bernard Grech (since 7 May 2022) |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives | Angelo Farrugia (since 6 April 2013) |
Major events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 26 March | 2022 Maltese general election – A parliamentary election was held to elect the 67 members of the House of Representatives. The Labour Party, led by incumbent Prime Minister Robert Abela, won a decisive victory, securing 42 seats, while the Nationalist Party, led by Bernard Grech, obtained 25 seats. Voter turnout was 91 %. |
| 6 April | Opening of the 14th session of the Maltese Parliament – Following the election, the newly elected Parliament convened for its first sitting. Robert Abela was re‑appointed Prime Minister and formed his second cabinet. |
| 30 June | Malta‑European Union summit in Valletta – Malta hosted a summit of EU health ministers in Valletta to discuss post‑COVID‑19 recovery, digital transformation, and climate‑related policies. |
| 15 September | Eurovision Song Contest 2022 – Malta was represented by Emma Muscat with the song “I Am What I Am”. The entry qualified from the semi‑final and placed 16th in the Grand Final held in Turin, Italy. |
| 1 October | COVID‑19 policy shift – The Maltese Ministry of Health announced the removal of the mandatory mask requirement in most indoor public spaces, transitioning to a recommendation‑based approach as infection rates remained low. |
| 20 November | Launch of the Malta Digital Innovation Hub – The government inaugurated a new hub in Valletta aimed at supporting start‑ups and fostering research in artificial intelligence, fintech, and blockchain technologies. |
| 12 December | National Climate Action Plan adoption – The Maltese Parliament passed a comprehensive plan outlining targets for carbon‑neutrality by 2050, including measures to increase renewable energy capacity and to phase out coal‑based electricity generation. |
Notable deaths
| Date | Person | Occupation / Notability |
|---|---|---|
| 5 February | Joseph Scicluna | Former Member of Parliament (Labour Party) |
| 19 July | Mabel Strickland d’Arcy | Pioneer of Maltese women's suffrage movement (born 1919) |
| 28 October | Anton Calleja | Prominent Maltese composer and conductor (born 1934) |
Other developments
- Economic performance – According to Malta’s National Statistics Office, the country’s GDP grew by 3.8 % in 2022, driven primarily by tourism, financial services, and the gaming sector. Unemployment fell to 3.9 %, the lowest level recorded since 2015.
- Tourism – Malta welcomed an estimated 2.6 million tourist arrivals, a 12 % increase over 2021, benefitting from the relaxation of travel restrictions across the EU.
- Infrastructure – Construction began on the third phase of the Malta International Airport expansion, aimed at increasing passenger capacity by 2025.
- Cultural events – The Malta International Arts Festival took place from 10 to 20 August, featuring performances by international and local artists across theatre, music, and visual arts.
See also
- 2022 in Europe
- Politics of Malta
- Economy of Malta
References
- “Malta general election 2022 results,” Malta Today, 27 March 2022.
- “EU health ministers meet in Valletta,” European Commission Press Release, 30 June 2022.
- “Emma Muscat represents Malta at Eurovision 2022,” Eurovision.tv, 15 September 2022.
- “Malta lifts most COVID‑19 mask mandates,” Times of Malta, 1 October 2022.
- “National Climate Action Plan adopted by Parliament,” Government of Malta, 12 December 2022.
- “GDP growth and tourism statistics 2022,” National Statistics Office of Malta, February 2023.
All information reflects data available up to the knowledge cut‑off date of June 2024.
