Local Government in the Republic of Malta – Formal and Legal Foundations

Abstract

The local government in the Republic of Malta is a young institution which was established in 1993. Until
2019, Malta’s local government comprised one tier and its basis was the municipality. Since 2019, it has
a two-tier structure and the units of territorial division are the region and the municipality. Even though
successive local government reforms increased the powers of the local authorities, the scope of their tasks
is not very extensive. A major problem is also the local government’s financial dependence on central
authorities. Nonetheless, an analysis of changes introduced to date through successive amendments and
reforms allows a conclusion that the actions which are undertaken mean changes in a good direction which
will be continued.