Prior to March 1995, when the enclave's Statute of Autonomy was passed, the city was part of Province of Málaga.

The mayor-president has the responsibility to lead the government; appoint the government members; represent the City; convene and preside over the sessions of the Plenary;[1] design, develop and execute the powers entrusted to the autonomous cities by the Constitution; dictate regulations; execute the budget; head the civil service and hire, fire or sanction the personnel at its service; head the local police; lead the urban planning; exercise all judicial actions to defend the interests of the City; and adopt all necessary measures in case of catastrophe.

The mayor-president is in turn elected by the plenary Assembly of Melilla, with a legal clause providing for the candidate of the most-voted party to be automatically elected to the post in the event no other candidate is to gather an absolute majority of votes.

As in the regional or State governments, the mayor-president can be removed by a vote of no confidence approved by the majority of the local assembly.

This motion necessarily needs to proposed an alternative candidate, being a constructive vote of no confidence.