Reshuffle on the cards after election

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has given his strongest indication yet that he will have a Cabinet reshuffle if he wins the election, though he is still refusing to say whether Malta will go to the polls this year.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, (see pages 8-9), Dr Gonzi said that a 2007 election was still a possibility, even though this means he would have to make the announcement in the coming fortnight.

With the Budget debate lasting until Friday, the earliest possible election date is December 8 - the Feast of the Immaculate Conception - with the only other realistic options being December 15.

Despite the proximity to Christmas and Malta's eleventh hour preparations for the introduction of the euro in the New Year, Dr Gonzi insisted that a December election was still a possibility.

Dr Gonzi also makes it clear that he intends reshuffling his Cabinet - after the next election. He says there will be changes in the make-up and set-up of those elected on behalf of the Nationalist Party.

"Every minister and parliamentary secretary knows he has been given a temporary role and he has no guarantee. That's political reality, whether anybody likes it or not... Things will change," the Prime Minister said.

Dr Gonzi also revealed that he reprimanded Austin Gatt over the Investment Minister's outburst on Labour leader Alfred Sant at the PN's General Council and insists that Malta will not be paying any fines to the EU in connection with spring hunting breaches.