Roseanne Camilleri ambassador posting to proceed despite partner's threats to MP

Roseanne Camilleri's ambassadorial appointment is set to proceed despite a ruling by Speaker Anglu Farrugia that messages sent by her partner to PN MP Adrian Delia amounted to a serious threat. 

The CEO of Mount Carmel was approved last week by parliament's Public Appointments Committee as Malta's non-resident ambassador to Liechtenstein.

Her nomination passed only after Delia questioned her extensively on her record in her previous position as CEO of Primary Health Care, where she had been suspended amid an investigation into mismanagment of public funds.

Shortly after the hearing, Delia received messages from Camilleri’s partner, Anthony DeBono. In a ruling delivered on Monday, Speaker Anglu Farrugia said that those messages constituted a "serious threat". 

Asked on Wednesday evening whether he thought Camilleri was a good fit for the role, Foreign Minister Ian Borg said he would abide by the decision of the parliamentary committee.

“Let me see what recommendation the parliament gives... if parliament gives a positive recommendation, we’ll move forward,” Borg said.  

Clarifying later, Borg told Times of Malta he had written to the speaker to ask if the Public Appointments Committee needed to re-evaluate their decision following his ruling.  

“The speaker said that the committee’s decision remains valid,” Borg said.

As minister, Borg has the authority to decide not to appoint Camilleri to the role. 

Anthony DeBono, sent threatening messages to an MP, the Speaker ruled. Photo: Facebook

Speaking after the speaker's ruling earlier this week Adrian Delia said the government should reconsider her nomination.  

“The sender of the message threatened that certain individuals would be approached to speak out against me, with the aim of preventing me from contesting the upcoming general election. 

"If the government believes it is acceptable for more information about the nominee to emerge while someone close to her is simultaneously threatening a Member of Parliament, then that is deeply concerning. I hope the Minister for Foreign Affairs takes a different view.”