The Council Complete of State, the Constitutional organ in charge of electing the Grand Master (or, as established in the Constitution, a Lieutenant of the Grand Master, in charge for a year) of the Sovereign Order of Malta, will be held on April 29.
A note issued by the Sovereign Order of Malta on February 15, 2017, states “it was established by the government of the Order of Malta – the Sovereign Council – which met this morning at Rome, following the resignation of the 79th Grand Master Fra’ Matthew Festing, which occurred last January 28.”
The Council Complete of State will meet in the Hall of the Capitol, in the Magisterial Villa in Rome, extra-territorial headquarters of the Order of Malta. The vote of the majority plus one of those present having the right is required for the election of the Grand Master, as established in Article 23 of the Constitutional Charter.
Among those that have the right to vote are the Interim Lieutenant, the members of the Sovereign Council, the Prelate, the Priors, the Professed Bali, two Professed Knights delegates of each Priory, five Regents of Under-Priories and 15 representatives of the National Associations for a total of around 60 voters.
