Former Cabinet members: What they think about being sidelined

Four former ministers and two former parliamentary secretaries were not picked by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi to form part of his new Cabinet on Wednesday despite having been elected as Members of Parliament.

Even though they may have wished or hoped to form part of the Cabinet, the appointments are the Prime Minister's prerogative.The Times sought their reaction.

Former Tourism Minister Francis Zammit Dimech said he never expected or took anything for granted.

"I entered politics to be of service to the country and to my constituents. When it comes to Cabinet appointments that is not only a prerogative of the Prime Minister but also one I totally respect."

Dr Zammit Dimech will be taking a short break and try to catch up with various pending matters in his life.

"Without making any rash decisions, I am looking at different options, including restarting a specialised legal practice, but also giving some neglected hobbies of mine, especially photography, more attention.

"I also need to seriously start spending some time at the gym! Above all, I was and remain active in politics and dedicated to my constituents."

The Prime Minister, he said, gave a very positive signal in retaining tourism under his direct responsibility and also in asking Mario de Marco to take responsibility for the portfolio by appointing him Parliamentary Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister.

"Tourism requires all ministries working together to get our product right and the first aspect that struck me about the new Cabinet is this clear signal from the Prime Minister.

"Apart from that, I think there is a healthy mix between some of the more experienced and the relatively younger faces that make up Cabinet. I congratulate all my colleagues and honestly wish them the best of luck and success."

Former Parliamentary Secretary in the Rural Affairs Ministry Francis Agius said he expected to form part of the new Cabinet and was disappointed and disheartened he was not.

He felt he had worked hard as a parliamentary secretary first in the field of the elderly and then in rural affairs, one of the most challenging sectors after Malta joined the EU.

"I feel I always did my duty well, I was never in the midst of any controversy and, at 47, I am still young. Moreover, I have always been elected since I started contesting in 1996."

Dr Agius said that his supporters were more disappointed than he was because they expected him to become minister.

"I was elected from the most difficult district for the Nationalist Party - the second. The Prime Minister was contesting the same district and I suffered from the way the new districts had been drawn up," he said.

Former Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Competitiveness and Communications Edwin Vassallo said he wished he had been chosen because he knew he had carried out his duties well and wanted to continue doing so.

He said he would remain at the service of his constituents and the self-employed since he did not feel his political mission was bound to any office or success.

Mr Vassallo would again be working as self-employed in the family business. "I shall be doing the work I loved to defend as parliamentary secretary," he said.

Efforts to speak to former Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit, former Urban Development and Roads Minister Jesmond Mugliett and former Health Minister Louis Deguara were unsuccessful.