Independence Day in Malta

Prime Minister George Borg Olivier showing the documents on Independence.

Malta was ruled over the past 2 millennia by the Carthaginians, Phoenicians, Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Spanish, the Knights of St John, the French and the British. Following a Maltese constitutional referendum in 1964, approved by 54.5% of voters, on September 21st 1964, Malta became an independent state as a Constitutional Monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as its Head of State.

So September 21st every year is celebrated as Independence Day or Jum l‑Indipendenza in Maltese, this year being the 53rd anniversary. One can say that both Labor Leader Dom Mintoff, as well as Nationalist Leader and Prime Minister George Borg Olivier contributed towards the attainment of Independence.

Front page of a special edition of the Times of Malta, September 21, 1964.

On December 1st 1964, Malta was admitted to the United Nations. In 1965 Malta joined the Council of Europe, and in 1970, Malta signed an Association Treaty with the European Community. Malta was declared a republic on December 13th, 1974 and in 2004, Malta finally became the 25th nation to join the European Union. I was only 12 years old when Malta became Independent, but I remember very well the week-long celebrations, one of which was for all the children.