Maltese Political Union
Unjoni Politika Maltija
LeaderJoseph Howard
Founded1920
Dissolved1926
Merger ofMalta Political Association
Patriotic Committee
Merged intoNationalist Party
ReligionRoman Catholicism

The Maltese Political Union (Italian: Unione Politica Maltese, Maltese: Unjoni Politika Maltija) was a political party in Malta.

History

The party was established in 1920 by a merger of the Malta Political Association and the Patriotic Committee.[1] It emerged as the largest party in Parliament as a result of the 1921 elections, and its leader Joseph Howard became the country's first Prime Minister.[1] Two of the most popular politicians within the party were Enrico Dandria and Ignazio Panzavecchia, both clerics representing the party in Parliament.

The 1924 elections saw the party reduced to ten seats, and it had to form a coalition with the Democratic Nationalist Party to stay in power. In 1926 the two parties merged to form the Nationalist Party.[1]

In 1947 the Democratic Action Party was established as a revived Maltese Political Union.[2]

Ideology

The party sought to give the Italian language equal status with English in education and to progress towards self-government. It also defended the powers of the Catholic church.[1]

Election results

Legislative Assembly

Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Status
1921 Joseph Howard 7,999 39.07
14 / 32
 — 1st Minority government
1924 Francesco Buhagiar 6,553 27.23
10 / 32
 Decrease 4 Decrease 2nd Coalition government

Senate

Election Leader First preference Second preference Elected seats Position Status
Votes  % Votes  %
1921 Joseph Howard 1,611 57.95 1,635 63.25
4 / 7
 1st Government

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Vincent E McHale (1983) Political parties of Europe, Greenwood Press, p634 ISBN 0-313-23804-9
  2. ↑ McHale, p631
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