John Dalli is to be given a position with a government entity, it was announced this evening following a meeting between the former EU Commissioner and Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

The two had a 20-minute meeting this evening which was followed by a brief press conference in which the Prime Minister announced that he had discussed Mr Dalli’s recent offer to help the government.

Dr Muscat said “different options” were discussed but added, when asked whether the position will be consultative or executive: “I don’t only want advice from someone like Mr Dalli but I also want his energy, I want decisions.”

The meeting comes after Police Commissioner Peter Paul Zammit last week declared that there was insufficient evidence to proceed against Mr Dalli with a criminal case in relation to the alleged request for a bribe to alter legislation under his portfolio.

Asked by timesofmalta.com for the government’s official position on the matter vis-a-vis the European Commission, at whom, Mr Dalli is now pointing an accusing finger, Dr Muscat said the government will only take a stand after all the cases related to this issue have been exhausted.

“Currently there is still a case against one person being heard in court, when that case is decided, one way or the other, we will make our position clear,” he said.

Under Nationalist governments, Mr Dalli served as finance minister for over 10 years and was also minister of health and social policy and minister of foreign affairs.

mmicallef@timesofmalta.com