It appears that being related to Minister Helena Dalli (below) is a pre-requisite for gaining a government position with her youngest son, Jean-Marc Dalli (above), becoming the latest family member to acquire a position within the current government after being employed as the Logistics Coordinator for the 2017 Maltese Presidency of the Council of Europe, under the remit of the Ministry of Economy, Investment and Small Business.

‘Meritocracy’ was a cornerstone of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s successful election campaign in 2013. However, less than four years on nepotism has become the norm for one of the current administration’s leading ministers.

Jean-Marc Dalli follows his brother Luke Dalli, who was appointed as the legal officer at the Malta Arts Council, and earns between €20,619 and €23,540 per annum (subject to any adjustments).

Luke Dalli’s girlfriend, Rachel Debono, has also found herself on the state payroll as a ‘person of trust’ in Minister Dalli’s secretariat.

With the minister seemingly finding employment for family members on a whim, all that remains to be seen is whether or not the Prime Minister will decide to take action.