Gonzi takes over finance as same faces remain

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday appointed his Cabinet, retaining finance for himself, but otherwise resisting changes to the set-up he inherited from his predecessor.

All the incumbents have been left in place, although some substantial parts of the ministry portfolios have been juggled.

There were some new appointments, a necessity given Joe Borg's appointment as EU commissioner and Dr Gonzi's move to Castille.

The number of ministries has gone down from 13 to 12 because of the integration of finance within the prime minister's portfolio but there are three new parliamentary secretaries.

This means that there are three new faces in all: Michael Frendo, Tonio Fenech and Helen d'Amato.

The most controversial move is Dr Gonzi's decision to add finance - although a much leaner version of it - to his portfolio. However, his move is not without precedent: George Borg Olivier had been prime minister who was also responsible for the economic planning and finance portfolios. Dr Gonzi brought in Mr Fenech, who has just a year's experience in parliament, as his parliamentary secretary.

EU affairs seems to have been hived off within the foreign ministry, with John Dalli taking over as minister and Europhile Dr Frendo taking over as parliamentary secretary.

Mr Dalli had made it clear he was not interested in staying on a finance minister and Dr Frendo has been hankering for a role in foreign affairs, after years of involvement with the Council of Europe and the European parliament.

Mr Dalli has, however, retained some elements of his economic ministry; his new role also takes care of Malta Enterprise, international economic relations, external trade and investment promotion.

Tonio Borg, fresh from his election as deputy leader of the party, was also left as justice and home affairs minister but was also made leader of the house of representatives and deputy prime minister, taking over these roles from Dr Gonzi.

Education Minister Louis Galea has two additional sectors - youth and sport. Francis Zammit Dimech hung on to tourism, adding on culture and the arts and cultural heritage.

Transport is now under the belt of Jesmond Mugliett, who is also responsible for the "coordination of urban development projects".

The only promotion has been Dolores Cristina's. This former teacher has been moved up to minister level, taking over social policy from Dr Gonzi, although the ministry has been re-named Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity, reflecting its approach.

A number of ministers have had the more troublesome portions of their portfolios taken away from them. Waste has been taken from Resources and Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit and given to Rural Affairs and Environment Minister George Pullicino while Censu Galea lost transport and has been left with a meagre portion of communications, boosted somewhat by the new category of competition policy.

Only one portfolio was not touched. Giovanna Debono has kept both her Gozo ministry and portfolio.

Louis Deguara maintained his health portfolio, although he now has a parliamentary secretary with him, Helen d'Amato, reflecting the larger role resulting from the transfer of elderly and community care from the social policy ministry.

Austin Gatt kept information technology and investment but privatisation has been added, moved from the finance ministry.

The parliamentary secretaries have all been retained, although some have changed ministry.

Edwin Vassallo has moved to the ministry for competitiveness and communications. Tonio Abela has been transferred to Castille and Francis Agius moves from the social policy ministry to the ministry for rural affairs and the environment, taking over agriculture and fisheries.

Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici - whose mobile phone rang out deafeningly as he took his oath of office - stays with Dr Borg at the justice ministry.