The Labour Party yesterday announced a reshuffle of its shadow cabinet, which sees the Labour Parliamentary Group built around four working groups focusing on economic policy, sustainable development, social policy and home and foreign affairs.
For the first time the PL has a person tasked with the drafting of the electoral programme, the party said.
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, while 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 responsibity for areas such as the university.
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 spokesman for finance, responsible for the drafting of the Electoral Manifesto (former chairman of the coordinating group); Charles Mangion – main spokesman for economic development, financial services and pensions, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (formerly spokesman for finance and chairman, PAC); Chris Cardona – main spokesman for industry, self-employed and foreign investment (formerly communications and ICT); Gavin Gulia – main spokesman for tourism (formerly spokesman on the economy); Michael Farrugia – main spokesman for consumer rights, communication and ICT, spokesman for the sustainable development of the north (formerly social policy); Helena Dalli – main spokesman for public service and gender equality; Joe Sammut – main spokesman for transport and maritime affairs (formerly agriculture and fisheries); Evarist Bartolo – main spokesman for education and civil rights; Owen Bonnici – spokesman for higher education, university, research and culture (formerly youths and culture); and Gino Cauchi – spokesman for civil society, minority rights and media.
Suistainable development policy team: Leo Brincat – main spokesman for environment, sustainable development and climate change; Roderick Galdes spokesman for planning, urban development, construction and housing; Charles Buhagiar – main spokesman for infrastructure and public works, spokesman for the sustainable development of the centre; Joe Mizzi – main spokesman for energy and resources, Parliamentary Whip; Marlene Pullicino – spokesman for utilities; Anthony Agius Decelis – spokesman for agriculture and fisheries (formerly spokesman on the elderly) Anton Refalo – main spokesman for the sustainable development of Gozo; and Silvio Parnis – main spokesman for the sustainable development of the south (formerly consumer affairs)
Social policy team: Anġlu Farrugia – main spokesman for employment, quality of life and workers’ rights, Deputy Leader for Parliamentary Affairs; Chris Agius – spokesman for sport and local organisations; Carmelo Abela – main spokesman for social policy (formerly industry); Justyne Caruana – spokesman for family, children and persons with disabilities; Marie Louise Coleiro Preca – main spokesman for health (formerly tourism); Anthony Zammit – spokesman for generational solidarity and bio-ethics (formerly health); and Adrian Vassallo – spokesman for patients’ rights
Home and Foreign Policy team: George Vella – main spokesman for foreign affairs; Luciano Busuttil – spokesman for European affairs and youth; Noel Farrugia – spokesman for Maltese communities abroad and international development Aid; Michael Falzon – main spokesman for security and immigration; José Herrera – main spokesman for justice; Joe Debono Grech – main spokesman for defence and port Affairs; and Stefan Buontempo main spokesperson for local government.