Who runs local government in Malta?
Malta has 68 elected local councils (54 on Malta, 14 on Gozo) grouped into six regional councils. Local councils were only created in 1993, have few powers and depend almost entirely on central government money. The Catholic parish and village festa remain powerful centres of community life but have no legal power.
Republic of Malta · Unitary parliamentary republic · Southern Europe
The levels of government below the nation
| Level | How it is chosen | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Regional councils (6) | Made up of the mayors of member localities, with a regional president | Waste collection and coordination between local councils. |
| Local councils (kunsilli lokali, 68) | Councillors elected by single transferable vote every five years (last June 2024); the mayor comes from the party list that wins most votes in the locality | Upkeep of local streets and gardens, local enforcement, cultural activities; functions listed in detail in the Local Government Act. |
Three questions about local power in Malta
Are local leaders elected?
Local councillors are elected; since 2015, 16-year-olds can vote in local elections. Regional councils are made up of mayors, not directly elected.
Which laws set up local government?
Local councils are in the Constitution (Article 115A) and the Local Government Act (Chapter 363). Festa committees and band clubs are informal.
Who are local leaders accountable to?
Voters; the Minister responsible for local government and the Director for Local Government supervise; the National Audit Office checks accounts.
Traditional and customary authority
No customary authority. The Catholic Church, the state religion under the Constitution, is central to village identity: each parish's annual festa is organised by parish and lay committees and band clubs, which can be strong rival community networks, but they have no formal government role.
Community and neighbourhood power
Band clubs, festa committees and parish groups are informal but very influential in local life. Some smaller communities inside a council area have administrative committees under the Local Government Act.
Points to know
- The Council of Europe (2024) found that local councils' powers and money are both minimal, creating 'a certain balance' between tasks and resources.
- Gozo has its own Ministry for Gozo in the national government.
- Local politics is strongly shaped by the two national parties, Labour and Nationalist.
Local terms
- Kunsill lokali
- Local council.
- Festa
- A village's annual feast of its patron saint, organised by parish and community groups.
Sources
- Constitution of Malta (1964, rev. 2016), Constitute Project, checked 14 October 2026
- Local Government Act (Chapter 363), Legislation Malta (Ministry for Justice), checked 14 October 2026
- Malta: country profile (territorial organisation, responsibilities, finance), OECD–UCLG World Observatory on Subnational Government Finance and Investment (SNG-WOFI), checked 14 October 2026
- Malta: monitoring of the European Charter of Local Self-Government (2024 report), Council of Europe Congress of Local and Regional Authorities (CARTA-MONITOR), checked 14 October 2026
See also: Malta's official statistics and leaders · the 10 levels of power.