Cabinet: Robert Abela stamps his authority with major reshuffle
• Only five ministers keep places
A huge Cabinet overhaul was announced by Prime Minister Robert Abela yesterday as only five ministers got to keep the places they held in the previous Muscat administration.
They are Chris Fearne, Ian Borg, Justyne Caruana, Michael Falzon and Edward Scicluna.
In all, there are now 17 ministers (excluding Abela) and eight parliamentary secretaries, as against the 14 ministers and 10 parliamentary secretaries under Muscat
Economy Minister Chris Cardona lost the economy portfolio and has not been given a ministry. Joe Mizzi, former energy minister, has not been re-appointed in any position. Konrad Mizzi, who resigned in November, remains out of the Cabinet too. The only parliamentary secretary not to retain a position or be promoted was Anthony Agius Decelis.
Fearne retains the Health Ministry, Ian Borg the Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects (the latter replacing planning), Caruana remains as Gozo Minister, Falzon keeps the social affairs ministry, and Scicluna remains responsible for finance and financial services.
Evarist Bartolo moves from the Education Ministry to Foreign Affairs, replacing Carmelo Abela, who is now a Minister without portfolio under the OPM, and is responsible for sustainable development, social dialogue and the implementation of the electoral manifesto.
Michael Farrugia moves from Home Affairs to energy and water management (instead of Joe Mizzi). Farrugia is replaced by newcomer Byron Camilleri, who was the government whip under the Muscat administration.
Owen Bonnici loses the Justice Ministry and moves to Education and Employment, replacing Bartolo. Bonnici is himself substituted by Edward Zammit Lewis, who recently moved in instead of Helena Dalli in the Equality Ministry. Apart from justice, Zammit Lewis is also responsible for equality and governance.
Jose Herrera moves from environment to Minister of National Heritage, Arts and Local government, while Roderick Galdes is promoted to Minister of Social Accommodation.
Another promotion was given to Silvio Schembri, who becomes Economy, Investment and Small Businesses Minister.
Julia Farrugia Portelli is promoted from parliamentary secretary for reforms to Tourism Minister, while another promotion regards Aaron Farrugia, who becomes Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Planning.
Clint Camilleri retains agriculture, but moves up from parliamentary secretary to minister.
The new Cabinet took the oath of office at 3:30pm at the Palace in Valletta.
“The decisions of the Prime Minister are based on the priority that the country keeps moving forward in a sense of continuity but with a mind to implement the necessary reforms,” a government statement said.
It added that the new cabinet recognises the economic successes of the country and confirms the will of the government to address genuine aspirations of the family and the social improvement of communities.
MINISTERS Chris Fearne
Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister
Evarist Bartolo
Minister for Foreign and European Affairs
Edward Scicluna
Minister for Finance and Financial
Services
Michael Farrugia
Minister for Energy and Water Management
Owen Bonnici
Minister for Employment
Education
and
José Herrera
Minister for National Heritage, Culture, and Local Government
Carmelo Abela
Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister (responsible for sustainable development, social dialogue, and the implementation of electoral manifesto)
Ian Borg
Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects
Justyne Caruana
Minister for Gozo
Michael Falzon
Minister for Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity
Edward Zammit Lewis
Minister for Justice, Equality and Governance
Roderick Galdes
Minister for Social Accommodation
Silvio Schembri
Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Businesses
Julia Farrugia Portelli
Minister for Tourism
Aaron Farrugia
Minister for the Environment, Climate Change and Planning
Clint Camilleri
Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal’s Rights and Consumer Protection
Byron Camilleri
Minister for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES
Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi
Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds within the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs
Clayton Bartolo
Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services and Digital Economy within the Ministry for Finance and Financial Services
Clifton Grima
Parliamentary Secretary for Youths, Sport, and Voluntary Organisations within the Ministry for Education and Employment
Silvio Parnis
Parliamentary Secretary for Active Ageing and Persons ith Disability within the Ministry for Family, Children’s Rights and Social Solidarity
Rosianne Cutajar
Parliamentary Secretary for Equality, Reforms, within the Ministry for Justice, Equality and Governance
Deo Debattista
Parliamentary Secretary for Consumer Protection and Public Cleansing within the Ministry for Agriculture and Fisheries, Animal Rights and Consumer Protection
Alex Muscat
Parliamentary Secretary for Citizenship and Communities within the Ministry for Home Affairs, National Security and Law Enforcement