Examining a Broken System as Public Distrust Reaches Its Peak
1. Public Opinion in 2025
Malta has fallen 10 places to its lowest-ever position in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranking 65th.
In 2025, public trust in Malta’s institutions is nearing historic lows. According to Freedom House’s Freedom in the World report, while Malta retains a high overall score of 87/100, the country is explicitly flagged for serious problems with official corruption and weak institutional checks.
2. Political Corruption Patterns
According to Maltese Political Right Chart report on Malta, Eurobarometer of July 2025, which paints an even more pessimistic picture, 83 percent of Maltese people believe corruption is widespread, much above the EU average of 69 percent. Even more disturbing, 52 percent say corruption directly impacts their everyday life, while only 30 percent across the EU do; 23 percent personally know someone engaged in bribery. Confidence in national and local institutions, political parties, and public procurement systems has dropped. In every instance, over half of those polled view these bodies as compromised. These figures show a people no longer convinced their political system can change, not just discontent. For many, the issue is how deep corruption goes and who finally bears accountability rather than if it exists.
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Ranking Malta’s Corruption Globally
Malta recorded its worst ever showing on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), ranked 65th among 180 nations in the 2024 version, down 10 positions from the year before. Its score fell to 46 out of 100, the first time it has dropped below the 50-point mark since Malta joined the index in 2012. With lower scores pointing to higher perceived public sector corruption, the CPI ranks nations by perceived levels of public sector corruption. Ahead only of Bulgaria and Hungary, Malta is now among the weakest performers in the European Union. Transparency International notes ongoing worries about public procurement integrity and the erosion of the rule of law as the fall follows a decreasing pattern from its 2015 high score of 60.
Source image: Transparency International
Source: Transparency International
4. Legal Cases That Shaped Public Perception
The loss of public trust in Malta’s political institutions has been exacerbated by a string of well-documented incidents of corruption and scandals that have forever altered public opinion. One of the most notable was the 2010 conviction of former Chief Justice Noel Arrigo for taking a bribe in return for a lower sentence. The judiciary was horrified by this instance, which was uncommon, of a prominent officer being jailed for corruption.
Public mistrust was further increased by the contract dispute between Vitals Global Healthcare and the government years later. The €2.1 billion concession to manage three public hospitals in Malta was found to be fraudulent by the courts in 2023, citing conspiracy and a lack of due diligence. There are several ongoing criminal probes and court decisions that highlight systemic problems in public procurement, so this case is still developing.
The sense of impunity was increased in 2018 when the secretive Dubai-based company 17 Black, which was connected to prominent people in stolen emails, came to light. Despite the FIAU in Malta identifying Black as a member of a possible kickback network connected to significant energy deals, there were no charges brought against the firm.
The cumulative effect of these high-profile events has been to foster the general belief that Malta’s institutions are unable to hold powerful people accountable, which strengthens the conclusions of international watchdogs and erodes faith in the rule of law.
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Media, Narratives, and Public Memory
The public’s perception of corruption in Malta is greatly influenced by the media, both locally and abroad. Investigative articles published by media publications such as the Times of Malta, MaltaToday, and The Shift News often expose issues ranging from dubious government appointments to procurement irregularities. These studies aid in introducing comprehensive, fact-based charges into the public discourse, particularly when official accountability via institutional or legal channels appears to be lacking or delayed.
International organizations such as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have raised awareness of Malta’s governance challenges on a worldwide scale. The idea that corruption in Malta is connected to both local issues and international financing and regulatory gaps has been reinforced by their cross-border investigations, especially those that have turned up financial networks and offshore
transactions, such as the 17 Black discoveries.
Local media narratives may occasionally be informed or under pressure from this kind of coverage, which may also affect institutional reactions. OCCRP and local media outlets’ continuous coverage of the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia helped bring Malta to the attention of the world, leading to legal inquiries.
Collectively, media outlets shape public perceptions of corruption through money leaks, exposure patterns, and institutional inaction, sometimes through formal convictions but not usually. In a culture with few convictions, journalism is a vital accountability instrument and, for many Maltese citizens, the primary lens through which corruption is perceived.
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Systemic Problems vs Personal Blame
Malta’s discourse on corruption often focuses on individuals, including politicians, government workers, and businesspeople, even if the root causes of corruption are systemic. This tendency stems from a natural need to personalize accountability, especially in a small country where well-known people are easily recognizable.
The idea of individual accountability is supported by the frequent association of names with misconduct in high-profile scandals, leaked documents, and dramatic news reports. However, blaming individuals alone ignores the larger systemic issues that allow corruption to persist.
One of the main causes of misconduct is institutional breakdowns. Lack of whistleblower protection, politicized appointments, insufficient judicial follow-through, and poor checks and balances have all contributed to a culture of impunity. Oversight groups can lack the independence or resources to take decisive action, and investigations frequently stall without any consequences. These shortcomings foster an environment where unethical behavior can thrive, regardless of who is in control.
By targeting individuals without addressing the systemic flaws, public anger may find a convenient outlet but not a lasting solution. Sustainable reform requires more than naming and shaming. It demands rebuilding institutions to ensure transparency, accountability, and impartial enforcement regardless of who holds power.
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What Needs to Change
In order to restore public trust and raise Malta’s international anticorruption rankings, institutional reform must go beyond rhetoric. Instead of being the exception, transparency ought to be the rule. This means giving watchdog agencies like the judiciary, the Permanent Commission Against Corruption, and the Auditor General the resources they need to carry out investigations and take appropriate action while also shielding them from political interference.
Stricter controls, real-time transparency, and accountability for abnormalities are all necessary components of a reform of public procurement. Instead of just being codified, whistleblower protections ought to be strengthened and upheld. Asset declarations and lobbying registrations ought to be publicly accessible and subject to frequent audits, and noncompliance should have real consequences.
Crucially, civil society support and media freedom must remain at the forefront. Investigative journalists and watchdog groups have often taken over the tasks that institutions have failed to complete. Instead of limiting their labor, any reform effort must empower it.
Finally, regardless of affiliation or status, there must be political determination to prosecute charges. Without visible accountability and structural reform, public confidence in Malta’s democracy will continue to decline.
What Can the People of Malta Do?
The people of Malta have a crucial role to play in promoting accountability and enacting change. The following is what they can do:
- Vote responsibly
Voters have the power to hold elected officials responsible. This means supporting candidates with clear, credible anti-corruption agendas regardless of party loyalty and rejecting those tied to scandals or who dismiss transparency. - Demand transparency
Public pressure is important. By interacting with local councils, submitting freedom of information requests, and supporting programs like public procurement monitoring, Maltese individuals can advocate for improved oversight, open access to information, and significant whistleblower protections. - Join or support civil society
Groups like the Aditus Foundation, Occupy Justice, and Repubblika strive to uphold democracy and advance reform. To make their voices heard, even people who are unable to participate actively can give, share their campaigns, or go to public gatherings. - Stay informed and speak out
It is more difficult to deceive an informed populace. Maltese citizens can combat apathy by discussing issues in their communities, correcting disinformation, and not normalizing corrupt behavior. Silence enables impunity. - Call for justice, not just resignations
The public should be excited by more than just the call for resignations. It must demand significant legal consequences and prosecutions. If wrongdoing is proven, Maltese residents should expect justice rather than just a political reorganization.
One of the few things that constantly encourages institutions and politicians to change is public pressure, but real change takes time.
