Toni Abela has resigned as deputy leader of the Labour Party, the Prime Minister confirmed yesterday, making way for Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi to take up the post.

But this is unlikely to spell the end of Dr Abela’s career in public life, with Joseph Muscat telling supporters at the Labour Party club in Dingli the lawyer still had much to offer the country. 

Dr Muscat said he was “gravely disappointed” with the outcome of Dr Abela’s grilling last week at the hands of MEPs.

Dr Abela’s nomination for the European Court of Auditors was rejected by the European Parliament’s budgetary committee. 

Although the government could have pressed ahead with the nomination and seek a vote of confirmation in the plenary, it is believed Dr Abela does not want this. 

The government will now have to find another nominee to replace Louis Galea, whose term ends in May.

The Brussels setback created somewhat of a conundrum in the Labour Party since Dr Abela had not yet resigned from his deputy leader post. His replacement, Dr Mizzi – who was chosen by delegates in a one-man race last month – could only take up office when Dr Abela resigned.

But Dr Muscat yesterday ended speculation over an impending power struggle between Dr Abela and Dr Mizzi, saying that after a meeting, there was “no problem about that”.

The Prime Minister said he had a meeting with Dr Abela last Saturday, adding that an announcement on his future would be made soon.

Dr Muscat blamed the outcome of the EU grilling session on “some” within the PN who worked “against Toni Abela and the national interest” by trying to tarnish his reputation.

“They played a dirty game by going to European political groupings other than their own,” he said. MEPs questioned Dr Abela’s lack of experience in the field of auditing.

But they also asked about a case that cropped up before the last election involving cocaine dealing at the Labour club in Safi and Dr Abela’s alleged failure to report the matter to the police. Anonymous opponents had circulated a research file meant to undermine Dr Abela’s candidacy, according to Brussels-based newspaper Politico. Dr Muscat said this went counter to what the Labour Party had done in Opposition when it supported the nominations of various individuals proposed for EU posts by the Nationalist government.

However, Dr Muscat acknowledged there were others in the PN who helped Dr Abela’s cause by actively engaging with MEPs.