These Are The New Faces And Major Changes In Robert Abela’s Cabinet
Robert Abela’s Cabinet reshuffle wasn’t quite as extensive as some reports predicted but there have been some notable changes.
Three new MPs – Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, Omar Farrugia, Glenn Bedingfield – have entered Cabinet, while one, Aaron Farrugia, has been left out entirely.
There have also been a couple of changes to the portfolios themselves, with the likes of Chris Bonett, Clint Camilleri, Clayton Bartolo, Jo Etienne Abela, and Jonathan Attard given more responsibilities and Julia Farrugia Portelli given fewer.
Miriam Dalli, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi and Silvio Schembri have had a few shake-ups to their portfolios too, while Chris Fearne has been removed from his comfort zone in lieu of his nomination as Malta’s next EU Commissioner.
This is what has changed in Cabinet:
Gozo Minister Clint Camilleri has had his portfolio extended to include the crucial planning sector.
Clint Camilleri
Longstanding Health Minister Chris Fearne has been given a new ministry of European Funds, Social Dialogue and Consumer Protection, ideal to give him practice with EU affairs ahead of his nomination as Malta’s next EU Commissioner. Andy Ellul has been made his parliamentary secretary and will be best-placed for a promotion to minister once Fearne heads to Brussels.
Silvio Schembri is still Economy Ministry but has been given Enterprise (which includes responsibility Malta Enterprise) from Miriam Dalli’s portfolio as well as “strategic projects”. This is a completely new role that appears to have replaced “capital projects”, which was previously the responsibility of the Transport Ministry. However, he has lost responsibility for European Funds to Fearne and Lands to Zrinzo Azzopardi.
Julia Farrugia Portelli has lost her responsibility for consumer protection to Fearne and hasn’t gained any other duties, meaning she is now just Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector.
Clayton Bartolo has been given public cleanliness, a completely new role, over and above his original role as Tourism Minister. Glenn Bedingfield has been made parliamentary secretary for public cleanliness, an indication that the government intends to take this matter seriously.
Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi has gone from being Minister of Planning and Public Works to Minister for Lands (previously the responsibility of the Economy Ministry) and the Implementation of the Electoral Programme, a completely new designation.
Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi
Miriam Dalli has remained Minister for Energy and the Environment. While she has lost responsibility for Enterprise, she has gained a new responsibility – the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour.
Jonathan Attard remains Minister for Justice but is now also responsible for Construction Reform.
Jo Etienne Abela has been made Minister for Health, along with his previous Active Ageing portfolio. Malcolm Paul Agius Galea will assist him in this regard as Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing.
Chris Bonett has been promoted to Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works, replacing Aaron Farrugia, who has been left without a portfolio. Omar Farrugia, a new addition to the Cabinet, will assist him as Parliamentary Secretary for Public Works.
Chris Bonett
Ministers Owen Bonnici, Ian Borg, Michael Falzon, Anton Refalo, Roderick Galdes, Byron Camilleri, Clyde Caruana, Clifton Grima, and parliamentary secretaries Andy Ellul, Alison Zerafa Civelli, Keith Azzopardi Tanti, Rebecca Buttigieg, and Alicia Bugeja Said have had no changes to their portfolios.
Cover photo: From left: Omar Farrugia, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, Glenn Bedingfield
What do you make of this reshuffle?
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