The Malta Independent 10 June 2025, Tuesday
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Watch: Cabinet announced - Some ministers retained in former posts, others get new portfolios

Thursday, 8 June 2017, 13:07 Last update: about 9 years ago

Konrad Mizzi has been made the Minister for Tourism taking over from Edward Zammit Lewis who failed to get elected to Parliament, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat revelead as he announced the cabinet for the upcoming legislature.

The cabinet will be composed of 15 minister and 10 parliamentary secretaries; and will be sworn in tomorrow.

Dr Muscat said Mizzi will be looking after Air Malta. Mizzi had been relegated from Energy and Health Minister to No Portfolio Minister in the previous legislature when his involvement in the Panama Papers scandal was revealed. Mizzi, who was also made to resign as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, obtained nerly 5,000 first count votes in last Saturday's election.

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Edward Scicluna, Evarist Bartolo, Chris Fearne, Chris Cardona and Jose Herrera have retained the posts they held in the prevous legislature, while new posts were given to Joe Mizzi, Michael Farrugia, Helena Dalli and Carmelo Abela. Ian Borg was promoted from parliamentary secretary to minister, as was Justyne Caruana.

Anton Refalo, former Gozo Minister, is out of the Cabinet as he only wanted to the position of Gozo Minister, a post that was given to Justyne Caruana.

The Prime Minister's portfolio now includes financial and digital services, and he has two parliamentary secretaries, Silvio Schembri and Julia Farrugia.

Silvio Schembri will handle the digital economy, the financial services sector, and innovation; while Farrugia will be heading citizenship, shcemes, and reforms, namely regarding marijuana, prostitution, and full-time MPs.

Chris Cardona will retain the Economy Ministry, Evarist Bartolo will keep the Education and Employment Ministry with Clifton Grima responsible for sports, voluntary work, and youths as parliamentary secretary.

Joe Mizzi moves from transport to a Water and Energy Ministry, while Helena Dalli has been appointed Minister of European Affairs and Equality. She will have Aaron Farrugia as parliamentary secretary for european funds and social dialogue.

Edward Scicluna remains Finance Minister, Konrad Mizzi takes over the portfolio left by Edward Zammit Lewis for Tourism and Air Malta, Michael Farrugia is now responsible for Home Affairs.

Owen Bonnici retains the justice and local councils portfolio and will have Silvio Parnis as parliamentary secretary for local councils and Deo Debattista as parliamentary secretary for consumers' rights and V18.

Carmelo Abela was named Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Jose Herrera retained the environment ministry with Clint Camilleri responsible for animal rights as parliamentary secretary.

Chris Fearne remained Health Minister, with Ian Borg being made Minister for transport and infrastucture with Chris Agius as parliamentary secretary for planning and the property market.

Justyne Caruana takes over the Gozo Ministry from Anton Refalo.

Michael Falzon was appointed Social Policy Minister with Roderick Galdes appointed parliamentary secretary for housing and Anthony Agius Decelis parliamentary secretary for the elderly and disabled persons.

Byron Camilleri was appointed Labour Party whip, while Robert Abela is now legal adviser to the Cabinet, a post for which he will not be paid

Edward Zammit Lewis, Manuel Mallia, and Deborah Schembri

The Prime Minister was asked by The Malta Independent, as to whether Edward Zammit Lewis, Manuel Mallia, and Deborah Schembri will join the cabinet should they be elected through by-election, in a later re-shuffle.

Dr Muscat maintained that he could not wait for anyone to form the new government, regardless of his personal relationship with them. However, he said that "the cabinet you begin with is not necessarily the one you end with."

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