Updates with more details

The Nationalist Party has claimed that the four Armed Forces of Malta majors who were promoted to Lt Colonels two weeks ago were given a second promotion to Colonel, the second highest rank in the AFM.

Major Jeffrey Curmi, Major Mark Mallia, Major Pierre Vassallo and Major Mark Said were promoted to Lieutenant Colonels on 13 September. PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami and spokesman Jason Azzopardi, addressing the media outside the AFM headquarters in Luqa, said that all four were now promoted to Colonels.

This meant that the government has completed its mission to take over the army, Dr Azzopardi said, describing today as a Black Friday for the AFM, since it also saw the resignation of the current commander, Brigadier Martin Xuereb.

Dr Azzopardi said that the four promoted officers have not received training abroad and do not have the required qualifications for the job. He asked what form of performances assessment was carried out before the four officials were given two promotions in a matter of a few weeks.

Dr Fenech Adami said that the government had accomplished its mission now that it had taken over the army as well. He said that it all started with Labour leaning individuals being placed on government boards, followed by the Police Corp and now the army.

Dr Azzopardi said that the four colonels leapfrogged other Lt Colonels who had been deployed overseas and had the right qualifications, referring to a particular Lt Colonel who is currently deployed on a mission in Somalia.

Dr Azzopardi claimed that Brigadier Xuereb was pressured into resigning, despite the Opposition’s calls urging the government to stop interfering in the army.

He said that it now was crystal clear that the aim of Labour in government was to appoint party militants in top posts.

Dr Azzopardi said that the promotions of the four Lt Colonels were published in today's Government Gazette.

Dr Azzopardi claimed that former bomb disposal expert Jeffrey Curmi is gunning for the post of commander.

 

Minister says seven new colonels were appointed ‘by merit’

However, speaking at a press conference in the afternoon, Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said that the new colonels, seven in total, had been selected by merit and not for their political allegiance. Dr Mallia insisted that he was only interested in the men’s capacities. Apart from the four mentioned by the PN, another three officers were promoted to colonels.

The Minister said that the PN press conference was full of lies and incorrect facts. He said that he felt disgusted by the type of language the PN spokespersons had directed at the army officers.  Dr Mallia said that he could accept the fact that people had different opinions, but the PN was ridiculing itself with its behaviour.

Dr Mallia said that the law stated that the minister was responsible for such appointments in the army, but the PN “has not yet understood that it doesn’t run things anymore.”

Asked about the fact that four Majors were promoted to Lieutenant Colonels a few weeks ago, and promoted again this week, Dr Mallia said that there was nothing that prevented this, and this should be normal procedure. “I took that decision according to the army’s needs,” the Minister said.

Asked about the lack of overseas deployments, the Minister said that this was not the only thing that counted. Some members of the AFM do very important work right here in Malta, such as defusing bombs or saving lives at sea.

New AFM Commander to be chosen soon

Speaking about Brigdier Martin Xuereb’s resignation, Dr Mallia said that no replacement had been chosen yet, but a decision was expected to be taken in the next few days.

Dr Mallia again insisted that he did not pressure Brigadier Martin Xuereb to resign. He said that he and the Brigadier had a frank discussion in the morning, during which the AFM commander said that it was time for him to move on. “The Brigadier himself said that five years was more than enough for anyone.”

The Minister went on to quote parts of the resignation letter, in which Brigadier Xuereb thanked him personally for the support he had given him. “So how can the PN say that I forced him to resign?”

He would not say anything about Mr Xuereb’s new job in Brussels, apart from the fact that it is “very important.” The offer was not made yesterday, and the two had already discussed it.

Dr Mallia refuted claims that the four officers were promoted so that one of them can be the  next AFM commander. He said that he had promoted seven colonels, but there were other officers of the same rank that could be chosen for the role of commander.