Updated | [WATCH] Carmelo Abela sworn in as minister, Bonnici takes PBS, Zammit Lewis takes film

The new Home Affairs Minister's first comments to the media • Video by Ray Attard

Carmelo Abela is the new Home Affairs Minister • Video by Ray Attard

Home affairs minister Manuel Mallia’s replacement - Carmelo Abela - was sworn in today in a ceremony held this afternoon at the Palace in Valletta.

"The Prime Minister has shown that he has faith in me," Abela said in his first comments to the media. "Naturally, I am ready to take on the responsibility that has been entrusted to me and I will look to the future to ensure that what needs to happen will happen.” 

Mallia’s portfolio, which includes national security, citizenship, lands and public broadcasting, is expected to be split between three ministries: with Owen Bonnici taking the Public Broadcasting Services, and tourism minister Edward Zammit Lewis to take film.

Yesterday, Mallia was asked by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to tender his resignation following the publication of the inquiry report on the shooting incident involving Mallia’s driver Paul Sheehan.

Acting police commissioner Ray Zammit has already been replaced by security services head Michael Cassar.
 

‘Muscat dragged the country through three weeks of agony’ – PN

In a response, the Nationalist Party said that Muscat “has finally done what he should have done three weeks ago”.

“The Prime Minister dragged the country through three weeks of agony, during which he showed that he is incapable of performing proper political judgement as is expected of him as a Prime Minister,” the PN said in a statement. “Instead, he dragged his feet until he was left with no other choice than to do what he should have done from the start and sack Manuel Mallia.”

The Opposition added that it it thanks to themselves, their media and the independent media that Manuel Mallia has been sacked.

“If it had been up to Muscat, Mallia would have remained the Home Affairs Minister, despite the shooting incident involving his driver,” the PN said.

They repeated PN leader Simon Busuttil’s criticism of the inquiry report for “leaving doubts as to whether the whole truth has come out”.

“It did not in any way find Muscat’s communications chief Kurt Farrugia responsible, Muscat and his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri weren’t interrogated, the documents annexed to the inquiry report haven’t been published, and the whole truth about Muscat’s telephone calls on the night of the incident has not yet come out.

“We now leave it up to the people to judge whether the Prime Minister is truly capable of shouldering the responsibility that his job entails. His credibility has taken a large knock and the people are doubting his word.”

‘Muscat dragged the country through three weeks of agony’ – PN

In a response, the Nationalist Party said that Muscat “has finally done what he should have done three weeks ago”.

“The Prime Minister dragged the country through three weeks of agony, during which he showed that he is incapable of performing proper political judgement as is expected of him as a Prime Minister,” the PN said in a statement. “Instead, he dragged his feet until he was left with no other choice than to do what he should have done from the start and sack Manuel Mallia.”

The Opposition added that it it thanks to themselves, their media and the independent media that Manuel Mallia has been sacked.

“If it had been up to Muscat, Mallia would have remained the Home Affairs Minister, despite the shooting incident involving his driver,” the PN said.

They repeated PN leader Simon Busuttil’s criticism of the inquiry report for “leaving doubts as to whether the whole truth has come out”.

“It did not in any way find Muscat’s communications chief Kurt Farrugia responsible, Muscat and his Chief of Staff Keith Schembri weren’t interrogated, the documents annexed to the inquiry report haven’t been published, and the whole truth about Muscat’s telephone calls on the night of the incident has not yet come out.

“We now leave it up to the people to judge whether the Prime Minister is truly capable of shouldering the responsibility that his job entails. His credibility has taken a large knock and the people are doubting his word.”