Opposition leader Simon Busuttil announced an overhaul of the shadow cabinet yesterday, relegating all but three former ministers to the back benches in what he said was a “regeneration” of the Nationalist Party.
He said this was not only a change of faces but also of form and substance. For the first time, the shadow cabinet will be composed of an equal number of men and women. Two of them are MEPs.
The shadow cabinet was now composed of 10 “teams” each focused on a particular area. Every shadow minister would have a number of spokespersons dedicated to a particular sector. This would ensure that the work of the Opposition would involve not just the shadow ministers but all Opposition MPs, Dr Busuttil said.
Dr Busuttil said the PN was introducing innovative elements not seen so far in Maltese politics. “The main message I want to send out today is that the PN is able and ready to renew itself to provide an alter-native government.”
This was a formidable team that would present a serious, strong and effective Opposition to the government, Dr Busuttil added.
The shadow ministers are: Beppe Fenech Adami (Home Affairs), Mario de Marco (Finance), Chris Said (Gozo), Jason Azzopardi (Citizens’ Rights, Justice and Democracy), Claudio Grech (Economy), Marthese Portelli (Environment, Energy and Transport), Claudette Buttigieg (Health), Paula Mifsud Bonnici (Social Policy) and MEPs Roberta Metsola (European and Foreign Affairs) and Therese Commodini Cachia (Education and Employment).
All other MPs will be spokespersons on particular subjects. Francis Zammit Dimech has become spokesman on immigration. Charlo Bonnici has been appointed spokesman for hunting in view of the possibility that Malta will have a referendum on spring hunting. “This will ensure a greater degree of focus and cohesion in the work of the entire group,” Dr Busuttil said.
Shuffle ensures greater focus and cohesion
The shuffle also introduced new domains of political work that had previously not been used in the assignment of portfolios. New areas would include the responsibility for citizens’ rights, justice and democracy, the singling out of healthy lifestyle, the fight against poverty and immigration as major political priorities.
In this way, Dr Busuttil said, the shadow cabinet was not only a reflection of Cabinet but of the Opposition’s priorities. “Things are happening that raise questions in terms of democracy in this country: things like transparency, accountability and good governance need scrutiny.”
The new line-up means the removal from the front bench of all former ministers except Dr de Marco, Dr Said and Dr Azzopardi. Asked about former ministers Tonio Fenech and George Pullicino, Dr Busuttil said he valued their contribution but this was the moment of change. Dr Busuttil said David Casa would continue to serve as head of the PN MEPs in the European Parliament.
The Opposition leader stressed that the PN’s process of change would continue over the coming months. The first task would be to give each team new challenges.
Shadow ministers and their teams
Mario de Marco – Finance
Robert Arrigo – Spokesman on small businesses, manufacturing sector, retail, self-employed and cooperatives
Beppe Fenech Adami – Home affairs: police, defence, armed forces, security, correctional services, civil protection
Francis Zammit Dimech – Immigration
Chris Said – Gozo
Frederick Azzopardi – Gozo affairs
Giovanna Debono – Gozo affairs
Paula Mifsud Bonnici – Social policy
Robert Cutajar – Family and the rights of children, the elderly and persons with a disability
Stephen Spiteri – Housing and the fight against poverty
Jason Azzopardi - Justice and democracy
Clyde Puli – Citizens’ rights, equality, social dialogue, consumers’ rights, internet rights, communications and audio-visual policy
Joseph Cassar – Culture and the arts
David Agius – Local government, youth and sports
Claudette Buttigieg – Health and healthy lifestyle
Michael Gonzi – Primary health and healthcare professions
Albert Fenech – Mental health
Claudio Grech – Economic affairs: Enterprise policy, competition policy, the creative industry, the knowledge society
Kristy Debono – Financial services, IT and gaming
Antoine Borg – Tourism
Ċensu Galea – Public administration and government investments
Therese Comodini Cachia – Education and employment: further and higher education, research, innovation and socio-economic development
George Pullicino – Early and compulsory education
Carm Mifsud Bonnici – Employment, industrial relations and workers’ rights
Marthese Portelli – Environment, energy and transport
Ryan Callus – Environment, land, Mepa and infrastructure
Charlo Bonnici – Hunting
Toni Bezzina – Agriculture and fisheries
Mario Galea – Animal welfare
Roberta Metsola – European and foreign affairs
Tonio Fenech – Foreign affairs, including relations with non-EU countries, international organisations and Mediterranean policy
Mario de Marco – Coordination of parliamentary group
Ċensu Galea – Deputy Speaker
David Agius – Whip
Frederick Azzopardi – Deputy Whip
Tonio Fenech – Chairman, Public Accounts Committee
David Casa – Head of Maltese delegation in the EPP Group of the European Parliament