ETHNICITY. The earliest inhabitants preceding the Phoenicians were different races of Neolithics who reached Malta from the Balkans, Western Greece, Apulia and Calabria in southern Italy and Agrigento, Sicily, during the period ranging from 2,300 to 900 BC. The Phoenicians and Carthaginians arrived at about 900 to 800 BC, followed by the Romans after the Punic Wars in 218 BC. There might also have been a Greek presence before Roman times and after as Byzantines. The Arabs conquered Malta in 870 AD and gave it its language, only to be ousted by the Normans in 1090. A succession of Suabian, Angevin, Aragonese and Castilian feudal lords followed till 1530 when Malta was handed over to the Order of St John. The French possessed the island for two years in 1798 after which the British took over in 1800 until 1964 when Malta achieved independence.

POPULATION. With a population of 380,000 spread over an area of 316 sq. km, the Maltese archipelago of Malta, Gozo and Comino is one of the most densely populated in Europe. Roman Catholicism predominates among some 90% of the population. Other denominations include Protestant, Greek Catholic and Orthodox, Jehovah Witness, Jewish and Moslem congregations.

LANGUAGE. Maltese is the national language of Malta and the language of the courts of law, and together with the English and any other language which may be prescribed by Parliament, it is also the official language of Malta which may be used by the Administration. The House of Representatives has the power to regulate its own procedure to determine the language or languages to be used in Parliamentary proceedings and records.

Maltese is of semitic origin and was imported into the islands with the arrival of the Arabs in 870 AD through 1090 AD. It is also thought that the inhabitants already had a propensity to a semitic base owing to previous occupation periods of settlers from Phoenicia and Carthage. With the arrival of mainland European rulers, an influx of Romance words pervaded the language which however kept its semitic foundations. Italian is also widely spoken.

CONSTITUTION. On becoming independent from Britain on the 21^st September, 1964, a constitutional monarchy was adopted with Queen Elizabeth II, Head of the Commonwealth, also Head of the State of Malta. It was opined at the time that her title should actually have been Elizabeth I, or simply Elizabeth, Queen of Malta. The 1964 constitution was substantially amended on the 13th December, 1974 to give the State of Malta republican status.

The incumbent president, Edward Fenech Adami, was sworn in office on the 4th April, 2004 by the House of Representatives for a five-year term.

The National Anthem of Malta, also translated into English,. was written by priest and national poet Dun Karm Psaila (1871-1961) and its music composed by Dr Robert Sammut (1870-1934). It was officially adopted in 1945 soon after the turmoil caused by WWII and before the advent of self-government.

The Malta Constitution deals with the National Anthem in article 4 thereof where it is stated that "The National Anthem of Malta is L-Innu Malti opening with the words "Lil din l-Art Helwa 1-Omm li tatna isimha".

In article 5 it is stated that the National language of Malta is the Maltese language. Both the Maltese and the English languages and such other language as may be prescribed by Parliament (by a law passed by not less than two-thirds of all the members of the House of Representatives) shall be the official languages of Malta and the Administration may for all official purposes use any of such languages. However, any person may address the Administration in any of the official languages and the reply of the Administration thereto shall be in such language.

GOVERNMENT. The unicameral parliamentary system provides for a House of Representatives composed of 65 seats, plus extra seats to compensate for the percentage majority of votes, and is elected for five years. Each of the 13 electoral divisions elects 5 seats on a proportional representation basis. Of these, the small island of Gozo constitutes one whole division to compensate for its insularity. Suffrage is universal at age 18.

The Prime Minister is Lawrence Gonzi at the head of the Nationalist Party which polled 49.3% of the votes and gained 35 seats during the March 2008 elections. The Labour Party polled 48.8% of the votes and 34 seats. The voter turnout was 93%.

There are 68 local councils in Malta and elections are held on a rotation basis of one-third of the localities every three years.

Malta joined the EU on the 1^st May, 2004.

Malta Government Þ http://www.gov.mt/index.asp?l=2

Department of Information Þ http://www.doi.gov.mt/

House of Representatives Þ http://parliament.gov.mt/

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