Abela’s new Cabinet meets for first time after election

Prime Minister Robert Abela’s new Cabinet met for the first time on Tuesday to begin work on implementing what he described as “the most ambitious manifesto of any political movement.”

Abela posted a short video on Facebook, saying the team has the determination and skills needed to deliver on the promises made during the electoral campaign, describing it as possessing the competence, credibility and experience to do so.

The prime minister formed his Cabinet with a mix of continuity and change, while Chris Fearne and Rosianne Cutajar made a controversial return to Cabinet as ministers responsible for foreign affairs and equality, respectively.

Ian Borg and Jo Etienne Abela traded portfolios, with Borg taking over health and Abela assuming the tourism portfolio previously held by Borg. 

Byron Camilleri was placed as education and sports minister after making it clear he did not want to continue in the previous portfolio that included home affairs and national security. The ministry was handed to Glenn Bedingfield.

Clifton Grima is now responsible for justice while the previous holder of this portfolio, Jonathan Attard, has been handed the responsibility of planning, infrastructure and employment. 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. Previous parliamentary secretaries Alison Zerafa Civelli and Malcolm Paul Agius Galea have been promoted to ministers.

Prime Minister Robert Abela

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

During the campaign, the Labour Party pledged to make people’s dreams its project. Abela underlined the importance of remaining as close to the Maltese people as the party had been during the campaign and in the months leading up to it.