The European Central Bank (ECB) has continued to refuse commenting on the legal proceedings which involve Malta’s Central Bank Governor Edward Scicluna, whose case in the Vitals hospitals concession will continue, after a Court ruled there was enough prima facie evidence for him to stand trial.

Scicluna has remained defiant in the face of calls for his resignation, despite the court decree, saying that the EU Treaty is protecting him as a Eurosystem Governor from the pressures he has been facing, namely by the PN, as well as Prime Minister Robert Abela who has also indicated that he believes Scicluna should step down.

Abela announced Thursday evening that a notice in the Government Gazette was to be printed on Friday detailing that Scicluna will no longer be occupying his position on the Board of Directors at the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).

The Malta Independent had sent questions to the ECB early in May of this year, right after the magisterial inquiry into the sale of the three Maltese hospitals was concluded, asking President Christine Lagarde on the tenability of Scicluna’s position in light of the charges brought against him. Scicluna is also Malta’s representative on the ECB governing council.

The ECB was also asked to confirm whether it has the prerogative to decide whether or not to remove a Governor sitting on the ECB Council, as Scicluna had been implying in earlier comments to the media.

Questions were sent to the ECB once again on Friday, asking about its position on Scicluna in light of the recent developments, following Wednesday’s court decree.

The ECB reiterated its response that it does not comment on pending legal proceedings.

Sources had told The Malta Independent later in May of this year that governors of Central Banks around Europe are appointed by national authorities and/or the country’s own government, and not the European Central Bank, implying that it is up to the government, not the ECB, as to whether Scicluna should keep his place, contrary to what Scicluna himself has been insisting on.

The Central Bank of Malta’s website also says that the governor and the deputy governors are appointed by the President of Malta, acting on the advice of the Cabinet of Ministers, meaning the government.

Other board members in the Board of Directors are appointed by the Prime Minister himself, and these members, along with the Governor, are appointed for a term of five years, after which they are eligible for re-appointment.