Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said today that he had met Education Minister Evarist Bartolo to discuss concerns raised about the head of the financial services regulator.

Mr Bartolo has in recent weeks made repeated calls for Malta Financial Services Authority chairman Joe Bannister to step down or be removed. Speaking in Parliament and also writing on his personal Facebook account, Mr Bartolo alleged that Prof Bannister was involved with a company registered in the Cayman Islands and this was conflict of interest

Asked about this Dr Muscat reiterated that he had full confidence in Prof Bannister, but that Mr Bartolo had raised “valid points”. The minister’s concerns revolved predominantly around “succession planning”.

Dr Muscat said that he and Mr Bartolo had “converging opinions” on the MFSA chairman.

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