Maltese ‘don’t fully grasp what it means to be an independent republic’

For a document that defines our nation’s legal and democratic framework, the Constitution of Malta remains unfamiliar to most citizens. Despite its foundational importance, it’s rarely read, even less often understood and almost never discussed.

That’s what makes a new digital initiative by Alex Portelli so important.

Launched on Monday (yesterday), constitutionofmalta.com is an online resource designed to bring Malta’s highest legal document into the public sphere in a language and format that anyone can access. Users have the option to explore the Constitution itself, or dive into its history, specially tailored for children aged five, 10, 15, and up.

Speaking to MaltaCEOs.mt, Mr Portelli explains how the Constitution should be understood by everyone – especially children, adding that he hopes to teach his own child about it one day.

“It’s not some alien document reserved for lawyers. It belongs to all of us, it is meant for the people,” he explains, noting that it should be read and understood by everyone.

Asked about what motivated him to construct this website – especially as a personal project in his spare time – Mr Portelli explains that when he looked at other countries, he noticed how most citizens have a clear understanding of their rights.

“If you try to take an American citizen’s gun, they’ll immediately quote the constitutional amendment that protects it,” he explains, noting that in Malta we do not have the same level of awareness.

“The Constitution is a dense document, filled with legal jargon, but it’s ultimately the foundation of our republic,” he continues.

The father of one also reflects on how much he learned throughout the process, noting several surprising aspects of the Constitution, especially how differently some institutions function in practice compared to how they’re defined on paper.

“The Constitution explicitly states that, regardless of which party is in power, the public service should continue to function independently. But in reality, we all know how Government changes bring a wave of new political appointees into public roles. That disconnect stood out,” he says.

Asked whether he sees his platform as a potential to be used as an educational tool in schools, Mr Portelli seems optimistic.

“I believe many of our societal problems stem from a lack of civic education,” he shares.

“People don’t fully grasp what it means to be a republic or an independent state. This website could be a stepping stone toward more informed citizenship.”

The website development, however, did not come without its challenges, with Mr Portelli explaining that the hurdles were mostly technological.

“The original document is a PDF, so converting it into a format that can be used in the website took some work,” he explains, noting how he used a variety of AI tools to help.

“I also ran random manual spot checks to ensure the information remains accurate,” he explains, reminding that the site is completely open source and contributions are always welcome.

Alex Portelli is also the person behind personalfinancetool.com, a free website to help users manage their finances.