The rules are rigged. It’s time to rewrite them

Malta has a constitution. We learn that it is the supreme law of the land. It safeguards our rights, constrains authority and ensures that no one is above the law.

But if we are honest with ourselves, we know that today, this is more promise than reality.

Our constitution, as it exists, is not broken. It has been bent – gradually, intentionally and repeatedly. Bent to serve the interests of the powerful. Bent to weaken checks and balances. Bent to enable governments to rule not with trust but through control.

That is why Democratic Vision 2050 advocates for a thorough and democratic overhaul of Malta’s constitution. Not a superficial revision. Not a power grab disguised as modernisation. But a genuine, transparent and participatory rewriting of the rules of the game.

Because a democracy is only as strong as the rules that bind those who wield power, and currently, those rules are not effective.

The evidence is everywhere.

We have seen how appointments to the judiciary, police, public broadcasters and regulators have historically been made behind closed doors, driven by political convenience rather than public interest.

We have observed how parliament often fails to act as a proper check on executive power, frequently reduced to a stage for party propaganda. We have experienced a presidency with constitutional duties but no real power to intervene when the system fails.

And what occurs when the system fails? We are advised to be patient. That institutions are “reforming themselves”. But reform cannot originate from the same structures that have benefited from dysfunction.

That is why Democratic Vision 2050 proposes a process of constitutional renewal grounded in civic participation, institutional independence and the principles of a republican form of government. It aims to separate the powers of the state so that no branch dominates the others. It advocates for independent, transparent and merit-based processes for appointing judges, commissioners and public officials.

It calls for a parliament that genuinely holds the government to account, not just in theory but in daily practice. It suggests more precise limits on executive power, especially during times of national emergency. Additionally, it incorporates public participation into the decision-making process, ensuring that democracy becomes a daily practice rather than merely an election ritual.

Constitutional reform is not a technical exercise. It is not just about legal language. It is about values. It is about the kind of country we want to live in.

At Repubblika, we believe the constitution should reflect the people, not the party in power. It should empower citizens, not just control them. And it should safeguard rights, not merely declare them.

We have experienced a presidency with constitutional duties but no real power to intervene when the system fails- Sandro Rossi

We are not naïve. We recognise that those who currently benefit from the system will likely resist change. That’s why genuine reform must be demanded by the people, not devised by political insiders.

The last time Malta experienced a genuinely democratic constitutional process was in 1964, and even then, it was a top-down process.

Over the past 60 years, our society has undergone significant transformation. However, the constitutional framework shaping our democracy has not evolved accordingly.

We cannot construct a future on a legal framework created for a different era, different circumstances and a different power dynamic.

That’s why Democratic Vision 2050 argues that the era of partial reforms is over. The moment has arrived for a new constitutional settlement, formed openly, publicly and with the broadest possible civic involvement.

Some will argue: “We don’t need a new constitution – we just need politicians to respect the old one.” However, that argument overlooks the fact that the current framework is inherently susceptible to abuse. Power without checks. Offices without responsibility. Laws without enforcement.

It’s not enough to call for respect – we must create a system that earns it.

This is not a revolution. It is a renewal. One that honours the promise of our republic by returning sovereignty where it belongs: to the people.

Read the full vision at www.repubblika.org/democracy2050. You might not agree with every proposal. That’s the purpose. Debate it. Improve it. Make it yours.

Because Malta requires more than just new politicians, it needs new regulations.

And rules that serve democracy must be written by the people, never by those who hope to bend them.

Sandro Rossi is a committee member of Repubblika.