Post-election shake-ups in ministries’ private secretariats

A number of changes took place behind the scenes at ministries in the wake of Labour’s election victory, with MaltaToday informed that these were the result of directions from Castille.

Economy minister Chris Cardona has removed Mario Azzopardi as his chief of staff, replacing him with Jeremy Dalli – the managing director of the Footloose and Qube Vodka Bar nightclubs in Paceville and a board member of the Malta Industrial Parks. 

Azzopardi, a clothes store owner, had found himself in the media spotlight last year, after he agreed to personally refund a €318 minibar bill that had been paid through the public purse during a three-day official visit to Dubai with Cardona and his personal assistant, Dana Bonnici. 

Foreign affairs minister Carmelo Abela has removed Anthony Vella Gregory, a former high official at Mid-Med Bank and later HSBC, as his chief of staff. In his place comes Arthur Garrard, who was also employed with HSBC – the bank Abela himself had been a manager at before his ministerial appointment in 2014. 

Sandro Mangion, a former editor-in-chief of l-Orizzont, has been promoted from Abela’s political coordinator for international affairs to being his private secretary.

Social solidary minister Michael Falzon, a former executive head of BOV’s legal office, has also decided to employ a former banking colleague, Richard Dimech, as his chief of staff. Dimech, previously executive head of BOV’s business centre and Valletta branch, had been seconded to the office of President George Abela between 2008 and 2013, and later joined Michael Falzon’s team after he was appointed parliamentary secretary for planning. 

Louis Gatt, the head of the Labour Party’s Electoral Office, has been appointed as Falzon’s private secretary – the same position he had occupied when Falzon was parliamentary secretary. 

Meanwhile, Anthony Ellul is no longer private secretary to home affairs minister Michael Farrugia, with a spokesperson confirming with MaltaToday that no replacement has yet been appointed in his stead. Ellul told MaltaToday that it was his decision to rejoin the private sector.

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