Former Labour minister Leo Brincat, who tomorrow faces one of the toughest tests of his long political career, is most likely set to be approved as Malta’s next member of the European Court of Auditors, The Sunday Times of Malta is informed.

Sources in Brussels told this newspaper that despite Malta’s association with the Panama Papers scandal, there was no appetite among members of the Budgets Control Committee to reject the country’s candidate for a second consecutive time.

“Mr Brincat is a seasoned politician with ministerial experience. There is absolutely no comparison between Mr Brincat and the candidate who preceded him,” an MEP from the Socialist group said, referring to former deputy leader Toni Abela.

“Although Mr Brincat will have a tough run during the hearing, particularly due his non-position on the Panama Papers scandal hitting his administration, he will most probably be approved, as long as he doesn’t fudge his replies,” another senior MEP member of the Committee said.

Tomorrow, MEPs are expected to grill Mr Brincat on his position on the Panama scandal. Mr Brincat will be Labour’s second nominee for the prestigious post in the EU institution, which comes with a lucrative financial package of some €220,000 a year.

Following the surprise nomination of Dr Abela, the former deputy leader  was judged to be incompetent to take up the six-year term in Luxembourg.

Voted out with a margin of 17 votes against 9, Dr Abela was deemed not to have any experience in auditing and administration, which are required for the post, with the only mention on his CV related to his time spent on the Ħamrun local council.

His unconvincing replies to questions on various scandals, including those involving minister Konrad Mizzi and the Prime Minister’s chief of staff, Keith Schembri, continued to wreck his chances.

Until his nomination a few months ago, 67-year-old Leo Brincat occupied the post of Environment Minister.

He has also served under two other Labour administrations, as finance and commerce minister under Prime Minister Alfred Sant and as parliamentary secretary for housing in 1986 under Prime Minister Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici.

The soft-spoken politician was never involved in any personal political scandals and has spent most of his career working in finance, mainly in the banking sector.

If approved, Mr Brincat will replace former Nationalist minister Louis Galea.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com