The European Central Bank said Wednesday that it does not comment on pending legal proceedings, following questions asked about the criminal charges brought against the Governor of the Central Bank of Malta Edward Scicluna.

The Malta Independent sent questions to the ECB addressing President Christine Lagarde in light of the criminal charges Scicluna is facing. Scicluna faces criminal charges of fraud and misappropriation, after a magisterial inquiry into the sale of three hospitals in Malta to Vitals Global Healthcare was concluded last week.

Scicluna, as well as others, were listed in charge sheets which were filed in court on Monday.

He served as the government’s Finance Minister from when the Labour Party came to power in March 2013 until November 2020.  He was then appointed governor of the Central Bank of Malta on 1 January 2021.

This means that he has a seat on the Governing Council of the European Central Bank.

The Governing Council is the main decision-making body of the ECB, consisting of the six members of the Executive Board, plus the governors of the national central banks of the euro area countries.

This newsroom asked the President of the ECB if she believed that Scicluna’s position is still tenable in light of the charges brought against him.

The ECB was also asked whether it has the power to force a change in the Maltese governor, who also sits on the governing council. The ECB was also asked if it will be putting pressure on the Maltese government to appoint another person to the role.

The President was asked about the ECB’s overall thoughts on the situation, that a governor of the Central Bank of a country is facing criminal charges.

The spokesperson for the ECB said that it does not comment on pending legal proceedings.