Prime Minister Robert Abela formally announced his new Cabinet on Wednesday night, having spent the better part of the day meeting most of his newly elected MPs.

Abela’s new team features a whopping 21 ministers and two Parliamentary Secretaries.

While Abela’s choice of MPs has not changed all that much – thus far he only has three MPs in his team who were not there during the last legislature – people will have to get used to many of these MPs being in brand new roles.

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg takes on the health portfolio, Byron Camilleri has been shifted to the education portfolio, Clifton Grima takes on the justice portfolio, Jonathan Attard is now on infrastructure, Glenn Bedingfield has the home affairs portfolio, and Jo Etienne Abela is leading the tourism ministry, among many other changes.

There was a return to Cabinet for Chris Fearne – who had resigned after he was charged in connection with the hospitals scandal, charges which remain pending an outcome – as he will take on the role of Foreign Affairs Minister.

Rosianne Cutajar, who was ousted from the Labour Parliamentary Group last legislature before being welcomed back into the fold, has also made it to Cabinet as a Minister.

Other MPs, however, retained their old roles.  Clyde Caruana and Clint Camilleri, unsurprisingly, retained the Finance Ministry and Gozo Ministry respectively – although Camilleri no longer has planning under his remit.

Miriam Dalli, Michael Falzon, Julia Farrugia, Silvio Schembri, and Anton Refalo have all meanwhile retained their roles.  Alison Zerafa Civelli remains responsible for local councils, but this time as a minister, rather than a Parliamentary Secretary. Chris Bonett also retains the same role, but his ministry has been renamed from Ministry for Transport to Ministry for Sustainable Mobility. 

The most notable absentee, meanwhile, is veteran MP Carmelo Abela.  He was on the backbenches during last legislature, but was seen arriving at Castille on Wednesday morning, leading to speculation that he had been offered a seat in the Cabinet.

In a statement announcing the formation of the Cabinet, the Office of the Prime Minister said that Abela had chosen a number of ministers who had the “experience, competence, and motivation to keep leading the country forward.”

“The formation of the Cabinet reflects the government’s commitment to fulfilling the electoral manifesto that the people chose, particularly for the creation of wealth and for the investment in people’s quality of life,” OPM said.

“While the government remains committed to continuing to get strong economic results, the work of the Cabinet will continue to focus on the implementation of measures that will make people’s lives easier, nicer, and better,” the office added.

The Cabinet will be officially sworn in on Thursday morning. 

The Office of the Prime Minister did not say that there will be any additions, even though there are still MPs to be elected via casual elections and the gender corrective mechanism.

This is the Cabinet list in full:

Robert Abela – Prime Minister

Ian Borg – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health

Owen Bonnici – Minister for Housing and Lands

Michael Falzon – Minister for Social Policy and Family

Anton Refalo – Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Supply

Silvio Schembri – Minister for Economy, Technology, and Strategic Projects

Julia Farrugia – Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector

Clint Camilleri – Minister for Gozo

Byron Camilleri – Minister for Education and Sport

Miriam Dalli – Minister for Energy, Environment, and the Regeneration of the Grand Harbour 

Clyde Caruana – Minister for Finance

Clifton Grima – Minister for Justice and Research & Innovation

Jonathan Attard – Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Employment

Jo Etienne Abela – Minister for Tourism

Chris Bonett – Minister for Sustainable Mobility

Chris Fearne – Minister for Foreign & European Affairs

Alison Zerafa Civelli – Minister for Local Government and Public Works

Keith Azzopardi Tanti – Minister for EU Funds, Consumer Protection, and Social Dialogue

Glenn Bedingfield – Minister for Home Affairs & Security

Malcolm Paul Agius Galea – Minister for Arts, Culture, and National Heritage

Omar Farrugia – Minister for Youths and the Implementation the Electoral Programme

Rosianne Cutajar – Minister for Equality and Civil Rights

Deo Debattista – Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Active Ageing, within the Ministry for Health

Alicia Bugeja Said – Parliamentary Secretary responsible for Animal Welfare, within the Ministry for Environment