These are the last days of Tonio Borg as an MP and minister.

The European Commission has still to formally accept his nomination as Commissioner, which will take place in the coming days. After which, Tonio Borg will resign from Cabinet and from Parliament. As Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi told TVM on Thursday, Dr Borg wants to make a farewell speech in the House.

While his resignation will set in motion the procedure for replacing him as an MP, it seems he will not be replaced as Foreign Minister. Sources in Valletta told this paper it would seem that Dr Gonzi intends to add the foreign minister’s portfolio to those he already has, considering there may not be enough time for a reshuffle and a new appointment.

It would also seem that Dr Borg intends to retain most of the Maltese staff that John Dalli had as Commissioner. These include former Alternattiva Demokratika head Harry Vassallo and Joanna Darmanin, a Foreign Office staffer, who had already helped Dr Borg in his European Parliament hearing.

The only replacement is that of Frank Zammit, John Dalli’s former assistant, as Dr Borg will be taking his private secretary Joe Scerri in his stead.