Speaker Anġlu Farrugia has denied exerting any pressure for his 32-year-old daughter to be appointed magistrate.

When contacted, Dr Farrugia ruled out any backroom deals. He laughed off a direct question on the matter: “You know me well enough,” he said.

Dr Farrugia refused to make any further comment when asked for his views on her appointment.

“I have no reaction. You should ask her. When they called her she called me an hour later and told me: ‘Daddy, they called me from the Justice Ministry’. I told her it’s your decision. She has her own life and her own family.”

The magisterial nomination of Caroline Farrugia Frendo, who is a month shy of the minimum seven years’ experience requisite to be eligible for the post, sent shockwaves through the legal profession and caused a political storm.

Malta Today last week claimed that Dr Farrugia Frendo’s nomination was interpreted as a “sop” by the government to her father after he expressed interest in being nominated by the government to the European Court of Auditors.

But Dr Farrugia denied having any interest in the €240,000-a-year job, saying he was happy as Speaker and the job was not on his bucket list.

Asked about his political future, Dr Farrugia did not rule out contesting the next general election. “I still have a lot to contribute,” he .