PM retains lean Cabinet
José Manuel Barroso addressing the European Parliament, which yesterday approved the new Commission that includes John Dalli who has resigned as Social Policy Minister, prompting a Cabinet reshuffle.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday decided to stick to a lean Cabinet, promoting a parliamentary secretary to minister and re-distributing a number of portfolios, cutting the number of parliamentary secretaries by one.
The changes, brought about by Social Policy Minister John Dalli's resignation, also saw Infrastructure, Transport and Communications Minister Austin Gatt lose Enemalta and Water Services Corporation, which Now fall under the umbrella of Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
The government announced last night that Health Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar was promoted to Minister for Health, the Elderly and Community Care. So far health fell under the auspices of the Social Policy Ministry. The responsibilities have now been split, with health going to Dr Cassar and social policy - officially termed as family affairs - moving under the responsibility of Education Minister Dolores Cristina, who also gets employment in addition to her "old" duties of education, youth and sport.
A 43-year-old psychiatrist, Dr Cassar had been appointed parliamentary secretary in March 2008 and was one of the newcomers in Dr Gonzi's second, leaner Cabinet.
Dr Cassar is expected to take his oath of office this morning Tourism Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco was given the added responsibilities of environment and culture.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue, Information and Local Government, Chris Said, is now also responsible for consumers and fair competition.
Research and development have been moved from under the umbrella of Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino to the Office of the Prime Minister.
In addition to revenues and land, Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi is now also responsible for small business.
This means that the Cabinet is again made up of nine ministers, since Dr Cassar replaces Mr Dalli. However, the number of parliamentary secretaries has gone down by one because Dr Cassar has not been replaced.
There was some activity going on behind Castille's doors late yesterday afternoon when select MPs were summoned to Dr Gonzi's office. Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono was seen leaving Castille just after 5 p.m. The reason of the meeting was not known.
Dr Gonzi left Castille for Parliament at 5.30 p.m., and when asked to comment about what was happening he preferred to say: "The announcement will be made at the opportune time". Indeed, the announcement was made about four hours later.
Dr Gonzi met Dr Cassar later at his office in Parliament and the new minister was seen leaving at about 6.30 p.m.
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Lawrence Fenech
Jan 6th, 13:00
At 500 euros a week from 2008 it does not seem a "lean government" it looks more like indigestion.
Joe E Galea
Feb 11th 2010, 08:53
...hehe as if Gonzi would irk his already shaky government?
John Savage
Feb 11th 2010, 08:45
I wonder, was this a better decision than a reshuffle? Dr. Gonzi knows the ministers appointed as well as their capabilities, so i would just trust his judgement.
I understand that many people find the increase in water and electricity as myself and my family also suffer from such costs, but when Malta is cleared of Illegal boreholes and housing powered by stolen electricity as we see on the island, then maybe that would help. The increase in gallons of water being pumped up from the little resource Malta has left, has not helped us at all.
There are a lot of factors that play a part in the increase in the increase of electricity and water bills, my friends. so let's not be too hasty about shooting the messenger. Every government has its flaws, everyone knows that; Berlusconi, Brown, Ahmadinejad even Obama (although i love his philosophy), but with the bad, also comes some good.
Like everyone else, i'm looking at my options for the next election, i am in no way biased to one party. But... give the guy a break i guess. Corruption in the government can handled in some way, but not corruption on the island.
Anthony Mizzi
Feb 11th 2010, 08:13
@Michael Gatt
- PN supporters are day dreaming, we will se how they will react when they recieve the new utility bill
I guess they'll be having plate and saucer throwing temper tantrums. It's the latest craze...
Michael Gatt
Feb 10th 2010, 15:32
PN supporters are day dreaming, we will se how they will react when they recieve the new utility bill
L. Cutajar
Feb 10th 2010, 14:44
To all broken hearted MLP supporters
For the time being please sit back and watch how a good leader runs the country. Joey Muscat will have his chance in a "few" years time. For now he can just learn and grow up, maybe then he will not do so much damage to our country.
C.Farrugia
Feb 10th 2010, 13:04
How can a Prime Minsiter be so weak. How can anyone manage two ministries the size of Education and Social Policy. The weakness shown by Dr Gonzi by not being able to move Mrs Debono to Education from Gozo is typical of this government -- do not do anything. And the people of my age used to complain of Borg Olivier in the sixties. He was speedy gonzales when compared to Lawrence Gonzi.
Joseph (Joe) Grima
Feb 10th 2010, 12:55
Too little, too late, Dr Gonzi did not have the guts to go the whole hog with Austin Gatt and simply clipped some feathers from his right wing ( no pun intended). The public outcry to have Austin Gatt.thrown out of Cabinet did not matter to the PM. Dr Gonzi may interpret these comments as invective towards an" effective " Nationalist minister. They are not. All he has to do is to measure my own comments against those of his staunchest Nationaalist supporters and he will see. The rest of the changes are simply inconsequential and will have no effect on the daily lives of sufferring Maltese and Gozitans. The Times, a newppaper definitely in the loop where Government affairs are concerned., predicted a shift for Giovanna Debono. Yesterday afternoon Giovanna had a private meeting with the PM and the shift for Giovanna stopped in its tracks. What did Giovanna threaten Gonzi with? The plot thickens. Again, the poorest performer among this poor lot, Mario Demarco, gets more reponsibilities without the reward of promotion. What is the game here? An attempt to crush a weak mule under a heavy yoke instead of just cutting it loose?
Tommy Vella
Feb 10th 2010, 12:28
@ Paul Micallef.
"The speculation that was going round, was not untrue, but he decided not to rock the boat more as it is." If many changes were udnertaken would you have said that the PM was rocking the boat?
I'm certain that he knows what he is doing which unfortunately can never be said for PL unless it changes radically.
Anthony Mizzi
Feb 10th 2010, 12:03
Very, very lean...even on ideas.
No innovations at all, just musical chairs....for front benchers.
James Grima
Feb 10th 2010, 11:26
@Paul Micallef.
You say tha Labour is going to win the next general elections? Barra minn fuqna habib. I'm really confident, and 100% sure that our prime minister, and his excellent team, and party will find a way to win the next election and continue with the excellent momentum, sia domestic, kemm foreign politics with which all the maltese are so proud with.
Paul Micallef
Feb 10th 2010, 10:43
@N.CALLEJA.
Yes comics i see that you have choosen the rights words to discribe what is happining to GONZI PN, i would even add a title as a TELE NOVELA. The speculation that was going round, was not untrue, but he decided not to rock the boat more as it is. He has given high posts in Europe to the only people that where cabable to run his goverment. Being lean? you mean what? keeping his cards to his chest, so he can control everybody, and those who fall out of file stay there. And if you think that the back benchers are all happy and smilies think again. This goverment will not win the next election,and i will tell you why, Sant has left, so all mintoff votes go to the PL, Jason has gone, what is there? mud slinging? what now? taht il-Labour no cikkulata?? what? He wanted to take the ministry of Gozo away from Giovanna,as i think that, that women has risen to the status of goodes in Gozo,, but,, but,,,
This country needs a change, new blood, fresh ideas, a dynamic team that can lead us foward,and not keep us in the past.
N.Calleja
Feb 10th 2010, 10:24
Despite the many speculations and rumours that went round for the last weeks, Lawrence Gonzi defied all this by keeping to his words when he had said that it was going to be a lean change at the Cabinet. Up to the last hours the media meddled in many permutations but the PM gave full confidence to his existing team of ministers and parliamentary secretaries by keeping them all on board. He also threw out all speculations that he was going to increase and introduce disgrunted backbenchers to the Cabinet. This was all media talk as the PM has shown that he truly has 'a pair of strong hands' on the government. The speculations, especially those by One TV were all the usual titbits found in comics!!