Gordon Pisani, the former Nationalist Party information director, has been appointed head of communications within the Office of the Prime Minister.

Mr Pisani will be responsible for government communications and media relations.

He studied at St Aloysius College and later read for a Bachelors of Art degree in legal and humanistic studies, and is a legal procurator.

In a statement issued yesterday the Department of Information also said that Josephine Vassallo, who served as press secretary within the OPM for the past 18 months, has been appointed the Prime Minister's personal secretary.

In a statement, the Labour Party criticised Mr Pisani's appointment, saying that his background as a former employee of the Nationalist Party's media machine made him unsuitable for the post which was a sensitive one and which belonged "to all the people".

Acting Labour leader Charles Mangion said the Labour Party was not willing to accept public funds being utilised in a partisan manner in order to serve the interests of the Nationalist Party. He said the PN government should be more careful in its public appointments if it wants to earn the respect of the Labour opposition.

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