Roped in as a star candidate for Joseph Muscat’s Labour movement, top criminal lawyer Manuel Mallia’s fall from grace came in December 2014 after a shooting incident involving his gung-ho driver. He was sacked after refusing to resign as home affairs minister. But his star shone again 18 months later when the Prime Minister appointed him Competitiveness Minister. He speaks to Ariadne Massa about his ‘rehabilitation’.

Why did you accept to come back?

First of all I didn’t immediately accept. In other words, I was given a hint about a week before it all happened… When I was offered the job, I was given a very tight time limit, which I did not stick to.

How tight was it?

The Prime Minister phoned me and asked me to give him a reply in half an hour because he wanted to go to the press. However, I didn’t keep that time limit because I wanted to think things through.

I had since returned to my legal profession and I was enjoying it, going to the office, seeing clients, meeting colleagues and going back to my old life, which I enjoy. I found more time for my kids... I was enjoying driving my car, rather than being driven… It was my life coming back to me.

I still remained active in politics. I was not the grumpy person stamping his feet, wanting to retaliate because I had been removed. It’s not my character. I was elected by my constituents so I had a duty towards them. When they elected me they elected me as an MP not as a minister.

So what sealed your decision?

Basically, I felt justice was being done… As you know my case did not concern any allegation of corruption, irregularity or something that is grossly or manifestly illegal…

But you had refused to step down and the Prime Minister was forced to sack you, which is difficult to come to terms with. So why would you want to go back to work with a Prime Minister who had forcibly removed you 18 months earlier?

First of all my work with the Prime Minister continued even after I was removed. There was no animosity between us. We still had meetings, even though I was no longer a minister; I still attended the parliamentary group, still went to Parliament… but I think the whole matter is this… I could never impose or interfere in the Prime Minister’s decision to remove me. I have no say and constitutionally he is primus inter pares [first among equals] – he appoints, he hires and fires… So there was very little I could do there.

But you had never wanted to resign; you had felt that by resigning you would be accepting culpability…

But the fact I did not wish to resign was my decision and a personal one. I couldn’t interfere in the decision of whoever has power to remove me. So obviously, the Prime Minister felt that’s what he should have done, and I respected his decision.

But you were hurt by it…

Yes, yes, but you have to be mature and accept it… So to have the same man who removed me, now reappoint me is positive. This is something I took into consideration when I accepted to take on the job as Competitiveness Minister.

Is that what swayed your decision?

Probably yes.

Do you feel this was the move needed in your mind to rehabilitate your image? In a way it was a stain on your political career when you were sacked…

Yes if I had to be truthful I have to agree. It’s only human; nobody enjoys being removed. But to have the same person who removed you think I can give an input in Cabinet is a plus.

How long did it take you to decide?

I’d say about two to three hours.

Have you appointed your chief of staff?

It’s between two people and I hope to decide this weekend.

I don’t wish to speak in terms of scapegoat and redemption, but I feel good that the Prime Minister, who removed me, reappointed me

Do you find it hard to trust people?

No, not really. Time teaches you. At the time I was a newcomer. I still consider myself a newcomer. I’ve learnt a lot though. Last time I was taken by events. This time I’m more careful as this ministry is highly technical and I want to have the right people in the right positions.

What’s your relationship with your former chief of staff Silvio Scerri? Do you still talk?

Yes he sent me text messages, and we’ve bumped into each other once at an opera in Gozo.

How do you feel about it?

Well, he was a person who helped me during my campaign. We’re friends…

Would you really consider him to be a friend?

Yes, yes.

Or just acquaintances? Friends are people you meet and socialise with…

Perhaps it’s not my definition of a friend… He sent me text messages, I’ve replied… but that’s as far as it goes… I’m the kind of person who sees the good in people. I don’t forget the good. And this person had helped me a lot during my election campaign, so I cannot forget what he did…

The people from your secretariat were kept on the State’s payroll. Will you be taking back any?

I haven’t decided yet. I might. I haven’t chosen anybody, except one driver…

How did you choose your driver?

He’s a very serious and correct man.

I guess you’re going to make sure he’s never armed.

No, certainly not.

Would you rather have had another portfolio?

No, I’m quite happy with the one I have. It’s innovative. Some subjects are highly technical and I’ll have to read up and meet the right experts to understand it better.

Also, one of the first things I did upon being appointed was to clearly say I’d like to work with the Opposition spokespersons on this subject – Claudio Grech and Kristy Debono – with whom I have an excellent relationship.

What’s the biggest challenge?

Competitiveness is a very wide term. But I think the most important word in this ministry is services; promoting Malta in the different kinds of services. I have received numerous interesting suggestions and e-mails from experts I haven’t yet met in this area and I’m sure we can expand on these concepts.

Gaming is another challenge. We’re very successful in this field but we have to be careful gaming isn’t used in an illegal manner or for money laundering, so that it can continue to flourish.

We have to maintain a good reputation. There have been a couple of instances where I was reading in the foreign press that companies don’t register in Malta but illegally use the island as a base for remote gaming so we have to make sure we clean that part of the sector. Thankfully, we have a very strong authority and it’s very professional… But like I said, I’m still finding my feet.

You have been given a minister’s portfolio that was previously being run by a parliamentary secretary. How do you view this situation?

Well, I haven’t asked the Prime Minister why he did this but presumably it’s because there’s a lot of potential in this area, especially when it comes to digital.

Why do you think the Prime Minister did this?

I thought José Herrera was doing a good job in this field but probably, and here I’m guessing, the Prime Minister saw a lot of scope in this ministry to separate it from Chris Cardona’s Economy Ministry.

In the interview you gave a year ago you had said you were the “scapegoat”. Can you work with the same people who were involved with in the communications’ mix-up? There’s Kurt Farrugia and Ramona Attard (your former spokeswoman) working within the Prime Minister’s communications office.

Well, they are the officers appointed as communications officers at the OPM. I have always acted professionally in my work so I think we should be mature enough not to let certain things, especially negative situations, affect progress and stop us from moving forward.

So you’re trying to rise above it…

Any professional should do that or you’re hindered by it.

Politically, do you feel your reappointment sends the right message, especially at a time when the government is in such a political mess?

Yes. Irrespective of anyone’s opinion, and with all due respect to the Prime Minister’s decision and the media, which exerted its own pressures, the majority of people out there whom I met questioned what I had to do with all this. Well, people say, what do you expect them to tell you, but I think they were genuine; they say it’s not as if you sent this person out to shoot…

While there are some people who feel you did nothing wrong, there are also those who cannot understand why the Prime Minister is rehabilitating you if what you did was a sackable offence.

I think politically the Prime Minister believes I can still contribute… There are numerous arguments about what I should and shouldn’t have done but I don’t wish to enter into this; it’s now in the past.

So from being made a scapegoat, did you see this as an opportunity for redemption?

I don’t wish to speak in terms of scapegoat and redemption, but I feel good that the Prime Minister, who removed me, reappointed me. Politically, I don’t think it’s a bad move and I can assure you that hundreds have sent me SMSs, letters and e-mails saying they were happy I was back. There’s a good feeling to it; it’s not negative at all.

At the time people were upset that you didn’t show remorse or issue an apology…

This is not something I was responsible for myself. I dealt with it in the best way I could... Why are we delving in the past?

Because there are some skeletons in the closet that people need answers to…

To be quite honest, in hindsight I can’t even tell you what I would have done differently. How can I control what a person chooses to do in my absence? What could I have done differently?

I hope I wasn’t brought in because I’m considered to be a vote-catcher

What lessons did you learn from that incident? How has it changed you?

It has changed me in the sense that politically I’m more mature and I can be more careful in taking certain decisions.

People were already speaking about a comeback in April last year. Did Castille promise to bring you back in the fold to soften the blow when it sacked you?

No, not at all.

At the time, did you want to return?

No, I didn’t even want to think about it.

Would you have preferred the job at the European Court of Auditors?

It was offered to me and I refused it. And it did not take me two hours to say no this time.

When was it offered to you?

It was offered to me before it was offered to [former Labour deputy leader] Toni Abela.

Are you happy with your decision?

Yes. This is my country. I still have small children.

What kind of welcome did you receive from Cabinet?

It was OK. You know, it was a normal welcome.

The party you left in December 2014 is very different to the one you’re rejoining now. Don’t you feel that your return to Cabinet can further dent the party’s bruised image?

I want to help the party’s image so that it will win the next election.

Looking from the outside into Castille, how do you feel the controversy stoked by the release of the Panama Papers was handled?

Well, I think the Prime Minister handled the matter of the Panama Papers in a very ethical manner. He called us all individually and we gave him our opinion. After that, he decided when it was the right time to come out with a decision... He acted correctly and professionally within the group.

Don’t you believe it could have been handled better?

In life, we’re all very clever after the fact. When you reflect back there is always scope for doing things better.

Do you think [former energy minister, now Minister Without Portfolio] Konrad Mizzi should have been removed?

I won’t comment. Like I said, the Prime Minister is primus inter pares. He is the person to decide. If you don’t accept his decision, resign, but ultimately it’s his prerogative.

How do you feel that Konrad Mizzi – he is the only minister of an EU member state mentioned in the Panama leaks – was kept on when his ‘crime’ in the eyes of some may seem worse than yours?

I don’t think ‘crime’ is a correct word in this context. I think they’re different cases so you cannot compare the two; they’re different in nature and in substance…

You’re clearly being diplomatic here…

I believe the two cases are completely different.

Well, you were removed very soon after the shooting incident that involved your driver while Konrad Mizzi was kept on. Do you personally agree with the way the Prime Minister acted?

Whether I agree or disagree is immaterial because this is what he decided to do. You either accept his decision or leave… I’m a member of a team and it’s the Prime Minister’s prerogative. In other words, it’s disrespectful if I go public and say the Prime Minister didn’t act correctly.

Have you told the Prime Minister, in confidence, what you really think of the matter?

Of course! He consulted me, like he consulted others. He knows exactly what I think, but what we discussed is completely confidential.

Do you think the party will recover from the Panama Papers scandal?

Yes… I believe the Prime Minister can win back the votes. He’s got two more years and he is a far superior leader.

Many questioned how the Prime Minister felt Konrad Mizzi was not good enough to stay on as Labour’s deputy leader, but good enough to be kept on as a minister. How do you reconcile the two?

In reality they’re actually two different matters.

Well, not really, because Dr Mizzi took a decision to resign based on the allegations. Shouldn’t the same apply for Cabinet?

I think they’re two different matters. I may be good in my ministry but I may not be good for the party. So politically, if I’m not indispensable for the party’s administration I may be removed, but if I’m very good at what I do and the country can gain from that, then it’s different.

There are those who believe you were brought back simply because you’re a vote-catcher, not because of your virtues. How do you feel about this?

Vote-catcher? Well I haven’t been in politics for so long and I only contested the general election once on two districts…

And you were elected on both…

Yes, I got the most first-count votes, but there’s no guarantee this will repeat itself. So I can’t understand why they are saying this. I hope I wasn’t brought in because I’m considered to be a vote-catcher.

In the upcoming general election the ninth district was going to end up without a minister contesting after the departure of Michael Falzon [who resigned over the Gaffarena scandal] and Leo Brincat [who has been nominated to the European Court of Auditors]. Bringing you back at this opportune moment will have that district secured.

In every election there are always new faces introduced to the electorate.

But it’s always good to have a heavyweight, so to speak…

You certainly have a physical heavyweight… unless I lose weight. I guess [being a vote-catcher] could have been a consideration but I don’t know.

Two newcomers – you and Konrad Mizzi – have been ‘rehabilitated’ by the Prime Minister, while Michael Falzon was not. Don’t you think this situation merely frustrates Dr Falzon and his grassroots?

When a minister resigns or is removed, the people within your camp will not be happy about it, especially those within your secretariat who lose their job. Michael Falzon and I have a strong relationship; we’ve spoken… the general negative atmosphere and feeling among the two teams may not necessarily reflect the relationship between the two candidates.

How do you plan to behave/do things differently this time around?

I would like to be different in the sense that first and foremost I’d like to dialogue with the Opposition as much as possible, and I want to hear their point of view. I also don’t want to detach myself from the backbench. I want to hear the needs of their constituents and see where I can help.

Are you a changed man?

No, I’m the Manuel Mallia I was. How can I change after all these years? So if people think I’m pompous as some have thought in the past, then perhaps I am, I don’t know… but I don’t consider myself anybody special and I’m very down to earth.

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