Marthese Portelli has been appointed the new Director-General of the Malta Developers’ Association just weeks after stepping down as a Nationalist Party MP.

Portelli, who was serving as the PN Spokesperson for Planning before her resignation, stepped down expectedly in February, claiming that she had grown tired of the shouting matches in politics.

The Malta Developers’ Association has been facing mounting pressure ever since the death of Miriam Pace, who lost her life after her home, which neighbours a construction site, had collapsed. The site’s developer was an MDA council member until the incident.

The latest appointment will only continue to fuel claims that both major parties remain firmly in bed with the construction industry. Portelli has long been rumoured to hold a good relationship with MDA Head Sandro Chetcuti.

Chetcuti has even proudly admitted that he was a protagonist in getting the Labour Party elected in 2013 and that donates to both sides of the divide.