'No new faces' in Cabinet

There are unlikely to be any new faces in the Cabinet following John Dalli's departure, sources close to the government have told The Times.

The emerging scenario was that two ministers would have their portfolios changed and two parliamentary secretaries would be promoted to minister, the sources added.

The minor reshuffle will be needed after Mr Dalli, Social Policy Minister, tenders his resignation today to take up the post of European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Affairs.

The sources said Education Minister Dolores Cristina was expected to make a return to the Social Policy Ministry to fill the post vacated by Mr Dalli, a portfolio she had first held in 2004 as a result of a reshuffle then.

The ministry would, however, drop the health portfolio with Parliamentary Secretary for Health Joe Cassar promoted to health minister.

In this scenario, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono would take over the education portfolio while the Gozo Ministry, a post she has held for several years, would be entrusted to former Nadur mayor Chris Said, currently the Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue.

Mrs Debono has been the Minister for Gozo since 1998, while Dr Said was elected to Parliament for the first time in the 2008 general election.

Dr Said would continue managing local councils, having spearheaded the Local Councils reform, the sources said.