Jeffrey Curmi is the new commander of the Armed Forces of Malta.

He was promoted from the rank of colonel to brigadier, while Colonel Mark Mallia, the President’s aide-de-camp, has been appointed deputy commander.

Brig. Curmi succeeds Martin Xuereb, who retired from the AFM last month after 26 years of service.

Brig. Curmi took over the day-to-day running of the armed forces after Brig. Xuereb announced his retirement but it was never officially confirmed that he would eventually become commander.

However, this was practically a given, especially after he was among seven army officers who were promoted from majors to lieutenant colonels and then to colonels in the space of two weeks last month.

His promotion to deputy commander was his third in as many weeks.

The move was criticised by Opposition defence spokesman Jason Azzopardi, who said the latest two promotions were the “last act” by the Labour government to take “complete control” of the army.

The government had been “very generous” to both men, who climbed up the ranks in a matter of weeks.

For the first time since Malta joined the EU, the highest two ranks in the army were given to officers who were not trained in highly reputable colleges abroad, Dr Azzo-pardi said.

He insisted that such promotions were not only illegal but also eroded the respect due to the army and undermined the AFM’s professionalism built over the years. Brig. Curmi’s appointment was the result of a close friendship with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat’s family while Col Mallia’s was because he was a staunch Labourite, Dr­­ Azzopardi said.