Youth Participation lies at the core of the National Youth Policy – Towards 2030.  

Three of its eight principles namely Participation, Access and Inclusion feature the concept of participation. When it comes to Access the policy states that young people should have user-friendly access to quality services and equality of opportunity with the aim of ensuring their active participation in the economy and society.

When it comes to the principle of participation the policy states that young people should be consulted and be involved in all planning and decision making as active participants in their own development and in that of the wider society.  

As for inclusion the policy states that barriers and impediments to young people's active participation in the political, educational, social and economic spheres should be removed and positive steps taken to help ensure that young people are not directly or indirectly excluded. 

Also, one of the document’s values is solidarity. The policy advocates for solidarity of young people, families and communities so as to ensure young people's active participation, sense of responsibility and caring, and capacity to build life enhancing relationships with their parents, siblings, peers and elders in the home, school, workplace and community.  

Moreover, Strategic Goal 4 states that young people should be provided with “proactive and responsive regional, local and schools-based supports and services that enable young people to learn, work in and contribute to their communities and the wider society and create an environment that fosters equality, inclusion, educational and economic opportunity, and democratic participation and accountability.” 

Malta is a parliamentary republic with a democratic system based on the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. These branches operate independently but remain interdependent in their functions. The legislative branch, represented by Parliament, is responsible for enacting laws, while the executive branch, led by the Prime Minister and the Cabinet of Ministers, is tasked with implementing them. The judiciary ensures the laws are upheld and interpreted correctly. 

Parliament, which serves as the legislative branch of government, is a unicameral body known as the House of Representatives. Laws enacted by Parliament gain legitimate authority once approved and signed into force by the President of Malta, who is the head of state. The Prime Minister, as the head of government, is responsible for the country’s administration and must command the support of the parliamentary majority. The President of Malta is appointed by Parliamentary resolution and serves a five-year term. The Prime Minister is chosen by the President from among elected members of Parliament, based on who is most likely to secure a parliamentary majority. The President, acting on the Prime Minister’s advice, appoints ministers and parliamentary secretaries to assist in governance. Both ministers and parliamentary secretaries must be elected members of Parliament. 

Parliament is elected for a maximum term of five years before it is dissolved for a general election. The electoral system in Malta is based on proportional representation using the single transferable vote system. The country is divided into thirteen electoral districts, with each district electing five members of Parliament. Additional seats may be allocated to uphold proportional representation as outlined in the Constitution of Malta. This voting system ensures a more representative electoral outcome by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference. 

At the local level, Malta has a system of local government established by the Local Government Act. The country is divided into 68 local councils, with 54 in Malta and 14 in Gozo. Local councils vary in size, comprising between five and thirteen elected members, including the mayor and deputy mayor. They are also supported by an executive secretary and administrative staff. Local councils are elected for a five-year term.

In addition to local councils, Malta’s local governance structure includes five regional committees, each comprising representatives from local councils within its designated region. These committees facilitate cooperation between councils and play a role in the enforcement of laws and by-laws.  

Voting in Malta is conducted by secret ballot and is not compulsory. The introduction of local councils and regional committees has further strengthened Malta’s democratic framework by ensuring governance operates at both national and local levels, fostering civic participation and community engagement.