Joseph Muscat reshuffles the shadow cabinet
From left: Charles Mangion, Karmenu Vella, Anthony Zammit and Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.
Joseph Muscat has reshuffled the shadow cabinet, with the Labour Parliamentary group now built around four working groups focusing on economic policy, sustainable development, social policy and home and foreign affairs.
The Labour Party said that for the first time, it has a person tasked with the drafting of the electoral programme.
Among the major changes, Charles Mangion sheds responsibility for finance and becomes main spokesman for economic development. Karmenu Vella is now responsible for finance and the drafting of the electoral programme. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca loses tourism and becomes responsible for health. Tourism has gone to Gavin Gulia. Anthony Zammit, formerly responsible for health, is now spokesman on the elderly.
There are specific responsibilities assigned for the development of each region and the allocation of direct responsibility for areas such as the university.
As before, no direct responsibility has been assigned to Alfred Sant. A party spokesman said that since Dr Sant was a former leader it was felt that he should not be assigned responsibility as spokesman for any single subject area.
The new responsibilities are as follows: (brackets show former responsibilities where there have been changes):
Joseph Muscat - Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Labour Party
ECONOMIC POLICY TEAM
Karmenu Vella - Main Spokesperson for Finance, Responsible for the Drafting of the Electoral Manifesto (former chairman of the coordinating group)
Charles Mangion - Main Spokesperson for Economic Development, Financial Services and Pensions, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (formerly spokesman for finance and chairman, PAC)
Chris Cardona - Main Spokesperson for Industry, Self Employed and Foreign Investment (formerly communications and ICT)
Gavin Gulia – Main Spokesperson for Tourism (formerly spokesman on the economy)
Michael Farrugia - Main Spokesperson for Consumer Rights, Communication and ICT, Spokesperson for the Sustainable Development of the North (formerly social policy)
Helena Dalli - Main Spokesperson for Public Service and Gender Equality
Joe Sammut - Main Spokesperson for Transport and Maritime Affairs (formerly agriculture and fisheries)
Evarist Bartolo- Main Spokesperson for Education and Civil Rights
Owen Bonnici - Spokesperson for Higher Education, University, Research and Culture (formerly youths and culture)
Gino Cauchi - Spokesperson for Civil Society, Minority Rights and Media
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY TEAM
Leo Brincat - Main Spokesperson for Environment, Sustainable Development and Climate Change
Roderick Galdes- Spokesperson for Planning, Urban Development, Construction and Housing
Charles Buhagiar - Main Spokesperson for Infrastructure and Public Works, Spokesperson for the Sustainable Development of the Centre
Joe Mizzi - Main Spokesperson for Energy and Resources, Parliamentary Whip
Marlene Pullicino - Spokesperson for Utilities
Anthony Agius Decelis – Spokesperson for Agriculture and Fisheries (formerly spokesman on the elderly)
Anton Refalo - Main Spokesperson for the Sustainable Development of Gozo
Silvio Parnis - Main Spokesperson for the Sustainable Development of the South (formerly consumer affairs)
SOCIAL POLICY TEAM
Anglu Farrugia- Main Spokesperson for Employment, Quality of Life and Workers’ Rights, Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs
Chris Agius - Spokesperson for Sport and Local Organisations
Carmelo Abela - Main Spokesperson for Social Policy (formerly industry)
Justyne Caruana - Spokesperson for Family, Children and Persons with Disabilities
Marie Louise Coleiro Preca - Main Spokesperson for Health (formerly tourism)
Anthony Zammit- Spokesperson for Generational Solidarity and Bio-Ethics (formerly health)
Adrian Vassallo- Spokesperson for Patients’ Rights
HOME AND FOREIGN POLICY TEAM
George Vella - Main Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
Luciano Busuttil - Spokesperson for European Affairs and Youth
Noel Farrugia - Spokesperson for Maltese Communities Abroad and International Development Aid
Michael Falzon - Main Spokesperson for Security and Immigration
Jose’ Herrera - Main Spokesperson for Justice
Joe Debono Grech - Main Spokesperson for Defence and Port Affairs
Stefan Buontempo - Main Spokesperson for Local Government
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
57 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Stephen Borg
Jan 29th 2011, 23:42
Qabel in-nies kienu mxenqin ghal xi bicca Mars jew xi barilla !!! u ILLUM IN-NIES MXENQIN GHAL XI NAQRA ZIEDA FIL-PAGA, JEW MEDICINI IRHAS, JEW SERHAN TAL-MOHH F'DARHOM U IKTAR SERENITA U IKTAR DRITTIJIET CIVILI MHUX BIEX HA NIBDEW NITKELLMU FUQ ID-DIVORZJU QISHA HA TISPICCA D-DINJA
R Axisa
Jan 29th 2011, 16:24
Iva hadd qatt ma sema' bil-kelma flessibilita???? Possibbli qatt hadd ma kien jahdem f'post tax-xoghol fejn jibaghtuh jahdem f'sezzjonijiet differenti biex jakkwista l-esperjenza, halli f'kas ta' bzonn il-principal ifittex u jsib haddiem li jkun jaf jaghmel dak it-tip ta' xoghol???? Waqt li jkun qed isir dan l-esercizzju ta' flessibilita', il-principal zgur li jkun qed jaghmel il-homework tieghu biex jara min hu l-ahjar ghat-tipi differenti ta' xoghol.
Kemm hawn min jara sa mniehru! U min jikkritika l-Karmenu Vella, veru ma jafx x'inhu jghid! Jekk tfittxu r-rizultati li kellu meta kien ministru tat-turizmu u tal-industrija, malajr tkunu tafu x'isarraf. Kellu bzonn il-performance tal-ministri li ghandna llum huma ta' dik il-kwalita!
G. Mangion
Jan 29th 2011, 17:45
R Axisa Quote ( Iva hadd qatt ma sema' bil-kelma flessibilita???? Possibbli qatt hadd ma kien jahdem f'post tax-xoghol fejn jibaghtuh jahdem f'sezzjonijiet differenti biex jakkwista l-esperjenza ) Mela,mela mhux hekk Axisa. Bir - Rispett Kollu allura jekk l' mlp ikun fil - Gov't xi darba ma tahsibx li, Flokk imexxi l - Pajjiz il - quddiem Ikun qed jesperimenta Bil - Mixja li mixja Malta f' kul- settur ? Imma min fejn igibuhom dawn il - Proposti ? Fil - Parlament Malti, M.P's
Professjonali min dejjem kin - hemm miz zewg Partiti, Min ma ghndux Kwalifiki ma ghandux
Johrog ghall Ebda Elelzzjoni heq !
R Axisa
Jan 30th 2011, 12:36
@G Mangion
Sorry ta! Imma bhalissa il-PL mill-oppozizzjoni ghandu c-chance li jhaddem il-flexibility biex ikun preparat ghal meta jkun fil-gvern, biex imbaghad jaghzel l-ahjar. U skuzani, imma jmissek tisthi tghid li min m'ghandux kwalifiki m'ghandux johrog ghall-elezzjoni. Jigifieri skont int min ghandu l-kwalifiki ma jaghmilx gafef, u min m'ghandux jaghzaq! Jekk nharsu harsa madwarna malajr nindunaw kemm hemm membri parlamentari bl-oghla kwalifici li jaghmlu gaffe wara l-ohra. Sa kien hemm min kiser id-drittijiet tal-bniedem. U ohrajn li m'ghandhomx kwalifici baqghu saqajhom mal-art u semghu lin-nies u ghamlu l-gid!
C Falzon
Jan 29th 2011, 15:48
It seems they've learnt something from the PN's problems - they won't be having any backbenchers causing problems.
One hopes though that the parliament building would not yet have been completed as it would then need to be rebuilt with only one long front row.
Joseph Scicluna
Jan 29th 2011, 15:28
Then there was someone who called EFA "skadut"
C. Bonnici
Jan 29th 2011, 12:25
Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca for health??????????
Christine Attard
Jan 29th 2011, 10:44
New Labour i presume.....Karmenu Vella tells it all he's been in the infamous 1981-87 cabinet need I add more??
Eric Camilleri
Jan 29th 2011, 15:22
@Christine
Dear Ms. Attard I think you are one sided here as even the Nationalist Party is formed with infamous ministers! And they are still in power!
alfred abela
Jan 29th 2011, 09:35
@ philip vella.kellhom bzonn ghandhom imqar wiehed li ghandu il karizma,jew inteligenti bhalu.fejn kien hemm karmenu dejjem success ghamel.dik kollha ghira.ejja karm hemm hafna nies li jafu xi issarraf int.
G. Mangion
Jan 28th 2011, 18:55
Imma kif Qatt ma taghmel wahda tajba jm !!
Were is A. Sant ?
R Axisa
Jan 29th 2011, 17:17
f'nifs wiehed tghid li JM ma jaghmilx wahda tajba u f'nifs iehor issaqsi fejnu Alfred Sant! X'kont tghid li kieku tah xi dekasteru lil Alfred Sant? Holl xaghrek u gib iz-zejt!
john borg
Jan 28th 2011, 16:46
Good to hear that a minister from the 1976 Labour cabinet will be drawing up the electoral manifesto. It shows that Labour is really different and full of invigorating changes.
Labour will never change. it just sheds its old skin and the new one is just like the older one!
Philip Vella
Jan 28th 2011, 18:22
kellu bzonn ghandkom imqar wiehed fil grupp parlamentari li imqar tajjeb daqs il-guy taghna!!
EDWIN DE MARCO
Jan 28th 2011, 15:29
To all blog "optimists": A politician thinks of the next election - a statesman of the next generation.Upon the conduct of EACH depends the fate of ALL. Once bitten by a snake, you are frightened by a rope that resembles a snake. Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. Finally: the devil's best trick is to persuade you that he doesn't exist. Time alone will tell........
Mike Magri
Jan 28th 2011, 13:47
To all PN Lackeys... Guys you are just trying your hearts out (unsuccessfuly, i say), to May Be make a SPIN of a `mountain` out of a `mole hill`...!!! Because...
Quote..."..The Labour Party said that for the first time, it has a person tasked with the drafting of the ELECTORAL PROGRAMME.." Unquote....
So whatever all of you are saying is purely inventions and suppositions and far off from reality, as apart from being and acting as shadow ministers etc.., the main task of this reshuffle is the construction of a Sound and Fruitfull Electoral Programme, on which a PL Government will get rid off of all kinds of corruption etc., and truly build a new and healthy Maltese economy for all Maltese and Gozitans alike, and NOT for the chosen few... This also means that the Labour Party have such a fresh, good and able Cabinett in preparation for the `take over` to choose from as ministers, etc....GOT IT.....!!!
That`s it Dr. Muscat... KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.......
Joe Micallef
Jan 28th 2011, 15:57
Magri credit to your honesty. You could not have described it better
A MOLE HILL which when transposed related to size, rather than an earthquake becomes at best a storm in a teacup
M Mifsud
Jan 28th 2011, 12:09
Tal-PN ghandhom 5 backbenchers; dawn m'hu se jkollhom lil hadd!
Anna Mifsud
Jan 28th 2011, 11:51
Terremot ta veru fil-MLP. Sa issa din hija l-lista tal--herba li halla dan it-terremot:
Kwistjoni tal-onorarja – Infaqghet il-buzzieqa f’wicc il-MLP u hareg il-qerq wara li smajna lil Hon Goerge Vella u lil Hon Joe Mizzi fil-Parlament fl-2009 jitkellmu fuq iz-zidiet. MELA KINU JAFU!!
Kwistjoni Power Station – L-Ewropa ma Sabet XEJN irregolari. L-MLP ghamlu plejtu fuq ix-XEJN.
Kwistjoni tal-gholi tal-hajja - l-MLP qed joffri li jzid il-pagi (living Wage) fuq bazi volontarja (Ha Ha). Barra minn hekk dawn veru Magicians biex kapaci jaghtu z-ziediet, izidu s-servizzi socjali, jtejjbu s-sahha u l-edukazzjoni, u nsomma jaghtu kollox lil kulhadd……. u fl-istess hin irazznu d-deficit!!! Jew qed jghidu li biex trahhas il-kontijiet kull ma trid taghmel hu li tibdel formula. Jew qed jghidu li tghid x’tghid il-qorti tal-VAT fuq il-karozzi ha jirrifondihom lura. Dawn x’affarijiet huma? M’ hawn hadd fuq il-ligi. Din hija dikjarazzjoni PERIKOLUZA. Tiftakru meta ssospendew il-Kostituzzjoni?!! Jekk jitilghu l-MLP fil-Gvern veru jsir terremot ghax dak li nbena f’dawn lahhar 25 sena kollu jinhatt f’gimgha!!
Pat Hobson
Jan 28th 2011, 11:58
@Anna Mifsud. X'inbena dawn l-ahhar 25 sena? Deficit ta' Euro 350 million. Dejn Nazzjonali ta' kwazi Euro 5,000,000,000. Dejn Enemalta Euro 450 million. Cirkewwa Euro 30,000,000 and going up. Mater Dei Euro 350 million, korruzzjoni, hbieb tal-hbieb, arroganza.... Tridni nkompli Mis. Anna Mifsud. Jekk trid izjed staqsi daqsxejn lil shabek ha jzidulek mal-lista!
A. Mizzi
Jan 28th 2011, 11:27
Definitely not the Gonzipn way, waiting for an election to do the re-shuffle and than informing the chosen and un-chosen by sms : )
Alfred Zammit
Jan 28th 2011, 10:39
Interessanti hafna li Dr Sant ma ssemmiex. Ma baqax dubju issa min baqa' jmexxi l-Partit!
Joe Micallef
Jan 28th 2011, 10:37
Who's responsible for the Living Wage! I have a list of requests I need to make for its calculation.
a.taliana
Jan 28th 2011, 11:58
No need for cumbersome calculations my friend. Just increase the minimum wage by Euros 600.00.
A.Gauci Cunningham
Jan 28th 2011, 09:58
@Rspiteri---What Evarist had done the PN did afterwards. The only difference being that while the Labour Party faced outrage the PN faced no opposition from the students, some of which had their stipend cut by more than 50%. So there's not much of a choice between the 2 actually on the stipend issue. You also forgot to note that Evarist is also the spokesperson for "civil Rights" a position he fills with pride and ability. Evarist is a main force when it comes to civil rights especially those re LGBT people. Recent facts, articles , meetings, Parliamentary action and clear stands prove this! Ara haddiehor biex jippoza biss kapaci!!
GiovDeMartino
Jan 28th 2011, 18:15
Dejjem tohlom b-LGBT int Sur cunningham! Jaqaw tal-lejber ghamluk president taghhom dawn tal-LGBT? Imisshom jaqraw dak li kont tikteb erbat ijiem ilu favur Gonzipn u kontra Joseph Muscat.
Giovanni Attard
Jan 28th 2011, 09:18
A good move by Dr. Joseph Muscat!! Keep up your good work!! Wara kollox, qed nuru li ahna partit movimentat fil-veru sens tal-kelma u mhux bil-paroli biss... id-Deputati u Segretarji Parlamentari Nazzjonalista qdiemu fuq l-istess siggu u issa qed jispiccaw jiggieldu bejniethom... Tassew ghandna Gvern li tilef id-direzzjoni u l-boxxla tieghu!! Sewwa qal il-Kummissarju Ewropew l-Onor. John Dalli!!
J.Agius
Jan 28th 2011, 08:59
Forsi mhux sa Jkollna Ministri.Heqq Fill kaxxa ta Malta it Toqba Kibret sew dejjem jhaffru (mhux az zejt).Bla ministri forsi nimxu ahjar.Ma jkollnix energija gdida li tkompli thaffer!!
Prim Ministru wahdu forsi xi darba jghid bizzejjed! Kif gerfixtni man!! Kemm qed nohlom ikrah!!! LLum rajt n-net il bierah s- super one.Kelli bzonn nqum sa l-ellezzjoni l-anqas biss tinduna kemm qed ihaffru.Misshom jsibu l-Awstrala ahjar miz zejt kieku. Ha nkompli nohlom!!
J.Agius
Anthony Farrugia
Jan 28th 2011, 08:57
Alla jilliberana minn dawn l-ucuh godda fjamanti!
M.Borg
Jan 28th 2011, 10:07
Iddeciedi xi trid siehbi!!! Jew tikkumentaw li Muscat ghadu zghir u inespert jew tikkumentaw li ghax dawn ucuh antiki (ghax il-kumment tieghek kien wisq sarkastiku biex ma tindunax). Xhin tiddeciedi xi trid hu decizjoni. Mhux basta tmaqdru. Tal-PN kollha godda l-ucuh!!!
C. Xuereb
Jan 28th 2011, 08:03
Lil dawn li ghaddew il-kummenti hawn isfel nghidilhom stennew jahasra, hudu pacenzja ftit xhur ohra u mbaghad taraw il-PL x'jaghmel. Ghala din il-kurzita kollha li tridu tkunu tafu jekk hux id-deputati kollha se jkunu ministri/segretarji parlementri? U jekk ikun hekk se taqa d-dinja il-PN mhux hekk ghamel!!! U C. Zammit mhux mil-lum trid tara x'hemm bzonn fin-nort, centre u s-south, mhux minn issa trid tipprepara u tlesti l-pjanijiet, tahseb li l-PL jahdem bhal tal-PN. Stenna u tara d-differenza. Prosit u Awguri Joseph Muscat u anke meta nkunu fil-gvern ghandu jsir reshuffle f'nofs il-legizlatura halli hadd ma jqammel fu l-sitess siggu.
Mike Farrugia
Jan 28th 2011, 08:59
Ghaliex ftit xhur ohra? Din ftit mil-medicina tal-PL? Mela Joseph qed jibza li jekk ihalli lil xi hadd barra dan mhux ser itieh appogg? Mhux hekk jghidu fuq gonzi jew meta jaghmel hekk Gonzi dan hazin u ghax ghamel hekk dan xi gharef?
Il PL baqa l-istess u jibqa l-istess. Nassigurak li meta jkun fil-gvern, problemi interni kbar ser ikollu Joseph ghax kulhadd irrid jahtaf anke dak li mhux tieghu.
U dawn il-pjanijiet x'ser ikunu? Tajjeb inkun naf kif jinhadem il-prezz taz-zejt, u jien x'jimpurtani jekk dan ma jistax irrahsu. Ma nafux x'ser jghid, sibna hofra w ghal din il-poplu jrid jaghmel is-sagrificcji ara hu il-pjanijiet ghat tfal tieghu diga ghamilhom biex jibghathom skola privata. Miskin imbghad ikollu bzonn living wage ghola mhux hekk!!
Bejn tnejn hziena ahjar naghzel l-inqass hazin
R. Caruana
Jan 28th 2011, 07:37
Musical Chairs.... same old faces. This is the earthquake that Joseph Muscat promised?
J. Schembri
Jan 28th 2011, 07:26
WOW ! It-team tar-REBHA!
Andrew B. Gatt
Jan 28th 2011, 07:17
Onestament. Jekk dawn huma indikaturi tar-responsabilitajiet jekk il- PL ikun fil-gvern, ikkonfondut ninfaqax nidhaq jew nibki !
edward ciantar
Jan 28th 2011, 08:52
Jien ili 20 sena nidhaq.
Andrew B. Gatt
Jan 29th 2011, 10:44
@ Edward Ciantar - Veru ! Ghax qabel kont ghamilt 16-sena tibki. Tixxennaq ghal xi bicca Mars, jew xi platt Spaghetti barilla ! Jiena d-dahk li idahhakni l-Labour u l-idejat immuffati tieghu ibikkuni !
Johan Mula
Jan 29th 2011, 18:22
Ideat immuffati Sur Gatt! Pensjonijiet, children's Allowance, Home ownership scheme, housing estates, minimum wage, Airmalta, Mid-Med bank, BOV, ST fost il-hafna fabbriki ohrajn. U jekk nibqa nsemmi ma niqafx. U int li ma kontx tisthi ssemmi l-mars!!!!!
Joseph Buttigieg
Jan 27th 2011, 23:59
Now its time to the Nationalist Party to reshuffle at least we could have some fresh air. What you think People?
George Micallef
Jan 27th 2011, 22:59
OMG Marie Louise Coleiro Preca - Main Spokesperson for Health??? Given this present precarious situation in our Hospital, I would have expected a person who has some experience in the field not a doom and gloom person like MLCP
Mark Mangion
Jan 27th 2011, 22:56
And where's Alfred Sant?
Anthony Farrugia
Jan 28th 2011, 09:58
The "eminence grise" behind the throne !
Mark Portelli
Jan 27th 2011, 22:48
Musical chairs :)
Dave Bonett
Jan 27th 2011, 22:41
If all these members of parliament are given a ministerial or parliamentary secretary position, it will cost us (taxpayers) much more than the increase given to the ministers lately.
The funny thing is that everyone is given a responsibility. What will happen if MLP wins the next election? Will they all have the same responsibilities as Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries?
ASpiteri
Jan 28th 2011, 12:03
That’s exactly the question one should put on this reshuffle news!
When labour are in government, will these 33 shadow ministers be granted a ministerial or secretarial position?
I can’t see how someone would be given the responsibility of a shadow minister once in opposition, but then relegated to a mere backbencher once in government. So i can predict the answer...seems we’re in for a huge cabinet.
And one shouldn’t only limit the concern over the amount of money devoted to this enlarged cabinet, but also to an inevitable outcome, that is more and more bureaucracy. And that’s the last thing we actually need!
Joseph E Briffa
Jan 27th 2011, 22:38
Veru sirna naraw kbir
r spiteri
Jan 27th 2011, 22:23
Evarist Bartolo fuq Education....ha nergaw nnehhu l istipendju? ha nergaw bir repeater class?
Lil Alfred Sant nesa jaghtih xi haga?! Nsejtu Dr Muscat?!
C zammit
Jan 27th 2011, 21:47
Interessanti li ghall izvilupp sostenibbli hemm ghas south noth u centru...tahsbek tghix f kontinent u mhux tikka ta malta...lol vera made in malta
ASpiteri
Jan 27th 2011, 21:39
once in government...will all these MPs will be granted a ministerial seat or at least a secretarial position?!
CCamilleri
Jan 27th 2011, 22:09
Sur Spiteri, stenna sentejn ohra mbad ara... kemm int mghaggel?
....Ghandna partit fil gvern u ghadu qas jaf hux kontra jew favur id divorzju u r referendum ha isir fi zmien hames xhur!!!
M.Borg
Jan 28th 2011, 08:04
Don't be childish!!!
M.Borg
Jan 28th 2011, 08:07
Probably there will be Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries, Assistant Parliamentary Secretaries, Chairpersons of Government Bodies etc etc. We can now have also Assistant Chairpersons of Government Bodies.
After all this is what is going on at the moment. Almost all 35 MPs from the Government part were granted some position or another!!!
Marco Desira
Jan 27th 2011, 21:38
OK Malta our problems are solved
Patrick Camilleri
Jan 27th 2011, 23:40
Issa jsolvihom Gonzi l-problemi !!!
Jeremy J Camilleri
Jan 28th 2011, 00:40
We have problems in Malta??? One wouldnt know...
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jan 28th 2011, 01:48
Why be so silly? Who is claiming that a reshuffle in any political party will solve the world's problems? Comments like these hardly showcase Malta. Do you want the country to continue to travel the same route?
C.Camilleri
Jan 28th 2011, 07:37
Problems? What problems? Have'nt you been watching Net and PBS my friend?