The time for a cabinet reshuffle is nigh. President George Abela’s term is coming to an end, and Cabinet Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca is soon to assume the role. This will see her move out of parliament and the most likely candidate to take her seat is former PL deputy leader Charles Mangion – a popular figure who was one of former leader Alfred Sant’s right hand men.

The Malta Independent has carried out a scientific survey, and it has emerged that the most unpopular figure in Joseph Muscat’s team is Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia. In fact, one in five want him out of Cabinet. Dr Mallia, a lawyer by profession, seems to have rubbed the wrong way against both PL and PN supporters, and he has, to date, had a fair few gaffes. But will Dr Muscat push him out of Cabinet? There are ayes and nays to that question. Dr Mallia is known to be a forceful figure who speaks his mind and has a cavalier approach towards things. But at the same time, he is a very big vote catcher.

The other big name that people want out is Health Minister Godfrey Farrugia with 15.7 % saying they would like to see him go. Sadly, Dr Farrugia is one of the few ‘nice guys’ in politics and it seems that he is ‘too good’ to be able to manage the minefield that he walked into – the Ministry of Health and the myriad problems that plague Mater Dei. There are rumours circulating, insomuch that the PM will take over this portfolio. His predecessor Lawrence Gonzi had done the same thing with the Finance ministry in his first tenure before Tonio Fenech was appointed.

 In a distant third, with 9.7% wanting to see the back of him, is Gozo Minister Anton Refalo. Again, another minister who has been a bit gaffe prone, has left people with a bitter taste in their mouths. But who, from the Labour camp, could replace him? The options at Dr Muscat’s disposal are few, but Justyne Caruana could fit the bill – though she too has had a couple of inappropriate moments.

But on the flipside, there is simply no comparison to the high esteem that Ms Colerio Preca is held – a whopping 53,9% of respondents said that she is Dr Muscat’s top performer – with PN voters rating her even higher than PL ones. Whoever gets that ministry – another hot potato – will have their work cut out for them and Ms Coleiro Preca will certainly be a tough act to follow. Another good performer – but a very distant second – is Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi. Tariffs are set to go down soon, and the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. Other noteworthy performers include Ian Borg, Joe Mizzi, Evarist Bartolo, Godfrey Farrugia (figures can  be very strange at times) and Finance Minister Edward Scicluna.

It seems that the die is ready to be cast and the game of Musical Chairs might be just about to begin. But with over 50% of people thinking that Labour has done a good job in its first year, it seems that Dr Muscat’s problems lie in individual performance – and not Cabinet’s performance as a whole. Given that the PM was criticised for his “value for money cabinet”, he might well just go for a reshuffle of portfolios rather than replacements. However, we have yet to see who the government’s nomination for Malta’s European Commissioner will be – and the likely name is Edward Scicluna – which could usher in a return for Charles Mangion... Interesting times lie ahead.