Kurt Farrugia to exit Transport Malta following clashes with Bonett
'There’s been a complete fracture in the relationship,' government sources say of the two men
Transport Malta boss Kurt Farrugia is poised to leave the regulator following a breakdown in his relationship with Minister Chris Bonett.
Sources close to government said both men had made it clear they could no longer work with one another.
While Farrugia has not yet formally resigned as Transport Malta's chief executive officer, there is widespread consensus within top government circles that an exit is now inevitable.
Multiple sources confirmed the personal clash and agreed to speak to Times of Malta on condition of anonymity.
“There’s been a complete fracture in the relationship,” a source said, “and there is no way of resolving it.”
One source said Bonett had made it clear to Robert Abela that he wants a new CEO at Transport Malta.
Another said Farrugia has been angling for an exit for several months.
“It’s been clear for some time that they don’t see eye-to-eye. The tensions were evident from day one.”
Bonett, who was appointed Transport Minister in January 2024 and reassigned those duties under the title Sustainable Mobility Minister earlier this month, is understood to be pushing for Farrugia to be replaced with his current chief of staff, Stephanie Bonello.
The plan is facing resistance from within the Office of the Prime Minister, which fears Bonett would then exercise too much influence over Transport Malta and its operations.
What Farrugia will do once he leaves Transport Malta remains unclear, though sources acknowledged that he may be offered a top job at another state entity.
Farrugia, who is understood to be on holiday with his family in eastern Europe, told Times of Malta he remains Transport Malta’s CEO. He declined to comment further.
A former Labour journalist and news editor, Farrugia served as the government’s chief communications officer and strategist between 2013 and 2019, when he was made CEO of Malta Enterprise.
Farrugia moved to Transport Malta in August 2024, taking control of the regulator tasked with overseeing Malta’s land, sea and air transport.
He also remains a key figure within Labour Party circles, forming part of an inner circle responsible for planning and organising its electoral campaigns. The party won a fourth consecutive term in a general election held last month.
Attempts to contact Chris Bonett for comment were unsuccessful.