Who’s who in the new Cabinet

Prime Minister Robert Abela has formed his Cabinet with a mix of continuity and change, while Chris Fearne and Rosianne Cutajar make a return to Cabinet as ministers responsible for foreign affairs and equality, respectively.

The health portfolio, previously held by Jo Etienne Abela, is now in the hands of Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg, a sign of renewed importance to a sector that has been at the heart of criticism over lengthy waiting times at emergency, overcrowding and hefty waiting lists for medical interventions. It is also a sector where infrastructural investment has been left wanting over the past 10 years, following the Vitals-Steward scandal.

Borg’s previous foreign affairs portfolio has been handed to Chris Fearne, who was elected on two districts, ahead of all other Labour candidates. Fearne had resigned from Cabinet in 2024 after he was charged in the Vitals-Steward corruption case along with several others, including former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat. Fearne is pleading innocence and has testified in court that he had been kept in the dark about contractual arrangements made by the former minister Konrad Mizzi. The case is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Jo Etienne Abela has been handed the tourism portfolio previously held by Ian Borg.

Significantly, Byron Camilleri is now education and sports minister, having made it clear he did not want to continue in the previous portfolio that included home affairs and national security. Home affairs is now in the remit of Glenn Bedingfield, who not only has been promoted to minister but also captain’s a very important and sensitive portfolio.

Clifton Grima, who was education minister, is now responsible for justice while the previous holder of this portfolio, Jonathan Attard, has been handed the responsibility of planning, infrastructure and employment. Attard has been one of Abela’s most trusted ministers and will be tasked to move forward with a reform in planning laws.

Chris Bonett has retained the transport portfolio, which is renamed as ‘sustainable mobility’.

Significant promotions were given to Omar Farrugia and Keith Azzopardi Tanti, who are ministers responsible for youth and European funds respectively.

The elevation of youth to a ministry of its own that also includes the implementation of the electoral programme is possibly a political choice to counter the Opposition’s youthful approach under its young leader Alex Borg.

Previous parliamentary secretaries Alison Zerafa Civelli and Malcolm Paul Agius Galea have been promoted to ministers.

Clyde Caruana, Silvio Schembri, Miriam Dalli, Michael Falzon and Anton Refalo will continue in their previous portfolios.

The prime minister also appointed two parliamentary secretaries—Alicia Bugeja Said and Deo Debattista.

Cabinet: The class of 2026-2031

Prime Minister Robert Abela

Deputy Prime Minister Ian Borg: Health

MINISTERS

Owen Bonnici: Housing and Lands

Michael Falzon: Social policy and the family

Anton Refalo: Agriculture, fisheries and food

Silvio Schembri: Economy, technology and strategic projects

Julia Farrugia: Inclusion and the voluntary sector

Clint Camilleri: Gozo

Byron Camilleri: Education and sports

Miriam Dalli: Energy, environment and regeneration of the Grand Harbour

Clyde Caruana: Finance

Clifton Grima: Justice, research and innovation

Jonathan Attard: Planning, infrastructure and employment

Jo Etienne Abela: Tourism

Chris Bonett: Sustainable mobility

Chris Fearne: Foreign and European affairs

Alison Zerafa Civelli: Local government and public works

Keith Azzopardi Tanti: European funds, social dialogue and consumer protection

Glenn Bedingfield: Home affairs and security

Malcolm Paul Agius Galea: Arts, culture and national heritage

Omar Farrugia: Youth, wellbeing and implementation of the electoral programme

Rosianne Cutajar: Equality and civil rights

PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES

Deo Debattista: Active aging within the office of the deputy prime minister and health

Alicia Bugeja Said:  Animal welfare within the energy, environment and climate ministry