Maltese order of precedence


The Maltese order of precedence is a conventionally set list. It is only used as a guide for protocol.

Order of precedence as from 2016

  1. President of Malta
  2. Prime Minister
  3. Speaker of the House
  4. Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta
  5. Chief Justice
  6. Government Ministers
  7. Parliamentary Secretaries
  8. Leader of the Opposition
  9. Former Presidents
  10. #Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
  11. #Eddie Fenech Adami
  12. #George Abela
  13. #Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca
  14. Former Prime Ministers
  15. #Alfred Sant
  16. #Lawrence Gonzi
  17. #Joseph Muscat
  18. Diplomatic Corps
  19. Bishop of Gozo
  20. Principal Permanent Secretary
  21. Judges
  22. Attorney General
  23. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives
  24. Members of Parliament
  25. Former Metropolitan Archbishops of Malta, Chief Justices and Speakers of the House of Representatives
  26. Magistrates of the Lower Court
  27. Permanent secretaries, Commissioner of the Malta Police Force, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta
  28. Auditor General and Ombudsman
  29. Heads of Bodies appointed in terms of the Constitution:
  30. #Chief Electoral Commissioner
  31. #Chairperson Public Service Commission
  32. #Chairperson Broadcasting Authority
  33. #Chairperson Employment Commission
  35. #Chancellor of the University of Malta
  36. #Governor of Central Bank of Malta
  37. #Rector of the University of Malta
  38. #President of the Executive Committee of the Local Councils Association
  39. A) Positions in Grade 3 appointed in terms of the provisions of the Constitution:
  40. #Directors General
  41. #Maltese Heads of Mission/Representatives accredited abroad
  42. #Deputy Attorney General
  43. #Deputy Auditor General
  44. #Deputy Commissioner of Police
  45. #Directors
B) Equivalent positions in the Armed Forces
  1. #Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta
  2. #Colonels of the Armed Forces of Malta
C) Registrar of the National Orders of Merit
  1. A. Positions in Grade 4 appointed in terms of the provisions of the Constitution:
  2. #Director
  3. #Assistant Attorneys General
  4. #Assistant Commissioners of Police
B) Equivalent positions in the Armed Forces
  1. #Lieutenant Colonels of the Armed Forces of Malta
  2. Mayors
  3. #Presidents of Regional Committees
  4. #Honorary Consular Corps
A) Honorary Consuls-General
B) Honorary Consuls
  1. Cathedral Chapters:
A) Malta
  1. #Archdeacon
  2. #Dean
  3. #Praecentor
  4. #Treasurer
  5. #Archpriest
  6. #Chancellor
B) Gozo
  1. #Archdeacon
  2. #Dean
  3. #Praecentor
  4. #Archpriest
  5. #Treasurer
  6. Chairpersons of Public Authorities with Corporate Structure
  7. Chairpersons National Government Institutions
  8. Chairpersons Public Corporations
  9. Chairpersons Statutory Commissions
A) Chairpersons Parastatal Companies
B) Chairpersons Parastatal Companies
  1. Chairpersons of Public Authorities not having a Corporate Structure
  2. Honorary Consular Corps Honorary Vice-Consuls
  3. Political Parties represented in Parliament
A) Partit Laburista
B) Partit Nazzjonalista
  1. Registered Trade Unions and Multisectoral Employers Association
A) Trade Unions:
B) Multisectoral Employers Association:
  1. National Business Organisations and Professional Bodies
A) National Business Organisations:
B) Professional Bodies:
Professions practised under Warrant Other Professions
  1. Constituted Bodies
A) Religious Organisations
B) National Councils/Commissions

Order of precedence to 2019

  1. President of Malta
  2. Foreign heads of state/Reigning monarchs
  3. Prime Minister
  4. Deputy Prime Minister
  5. Chief Justice
  6. Speaker of the House
  7. Ministers of the Government
  8. Justices of the Superior Court
  9. Parliamentary Secretaries
  10. Members of Parliament
  11. Magistrates of the Lower Court
  12. Attorney General
  13. Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta (Brigadier Mark Xuereb
  14. Mayors, in their jurisdiction
  15. Local Councillors, in their jurisdiction
  16. Ambassadors, in order of establishment of diplomatic relations with their respective countries