Former minister Aaron Farrugia on Monday was approved as Malta’s ambassador to the International Maritime Organisation, with the Opposition voting against the nomination.

The Opposition MPs on the committee voted against Farrugia’s nomination on the basis that he will remain a member of parliament.

Farrugia was removed from the Cabinet in the reshuffle carried out by Prime Minister Robert Abela in January. but he was immediately nominated to act as Malta’s non-resident permanent representative to the IMO.

Nationalist Party MP Karol Aquilina noted that the Standards Commissioner had criticised the system whereby government MPs are given jobs with the executive and called for this to change. 

Farrugia insisted that the recommendation made by the Standards Commissioner had to be viewed within a wider context where MPs are given the possibility to be full-timers.

“If parliament remains a part-time job one cannot preclude MPs from taking up other jobs,” Farrugia said.

PN MP Adrian Delia said the Opposition had no doubt on Farrugia’s ability to represent Malta well at the IMO but had a problem with the dual roles he will be occupying.