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LawThe Maltese law has a written constitution that requires two-thirds of the parliamentary majority in order to be changed. The Maltese constitution provides a set of principles re the safeguarding of the fundamental human rights of its citizens, as well as in the separation of the executive, judicial, and legislative powers.
Malta is a liberal parliamentary democracy, holding elections every five years that are essentially based on universal suffrage. The President is the head of state, while the Prime Minister and the Cabinet hold the country’s executive powers.
Although the civil and criminal laws in Malta are codified - this being a legacy of the brief French rule towards the end of the 18th century - it has been strongly influenced by other legal systems, and essentially, by the British common law. In fact, the British law and the British case law, both civil and criminal, are frequently quoted within the Maltese law courts.
More recently, the Maltese law has been influenced by the European Union legislation, especially with regard to the Maltese financial services legislation.
