Edward Scicluna will no longer serve on the Malta Finance Services Authority, the prime minister announced on Thursday, a day after the court confirmed that the case connecting him to the Vitals' hospitals scandal will go to trial. 

"A decision had to be taken and it was taken today. A notice will be issued in the Government Gazette tomorrow," Abela told interviewer Matthew Xuereb at a Labour Party activity.

Scicluna has been under pressure to resign both as governor of the Central Bank as well as director of the MFSA after he was arraigned and accused of misappropriation in the Vitals Hospitals case. He denies wrongdoing. 

Abela reiterated comments he made on Wednesday where he praised Scicluna for his integrity but indicated that he should also resign as governor.

Scicluna has stood firm, however, insisting on Thursday that the governor of the Central Bank is independent and follows European Union rules.

Abela said he hoped that Scicluna would take the best decision before the Cabinet meets next Tuesday. He believed that before then, Scicluna would take the best decision in the interests of the country.

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