The Central Bank of Malta officially announced that governor Edward Scicluna was stepping aside “to defend his innocence”.
The move had already been made public by the government on Tuesday.
The Governor of the Central Bank of Malta, Professor Edward Scicluna, is announcing his decision to step aside from the exercise of his function, in order to devote more time “to defend his innocence which he reaffirms, for a temporary period, until the outcome of the court proceedings,” the CBM said.
Scicluna has been charged with criminal offences following the conclusion of a magisterial inquiry into the now rescinded hospitals deal, which had seen three public hospitals passed on to be administered by private companies.
The Governor, the CBM statement said, is therefore designating Mr Alexander Demarco, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Malta to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the Governor during the above period as provided in Article 8 of the Central Bank of Malta Act as from Thursday, 1 August 2024.
This decision has been communicated to the President of the European Central Bank, Madame Christine Lagarde. The Cabinet of Ministers has taken note of this decision and “finds it to be in the national interest,” the statement said.
Scicluna will continue to receive his full salary.