Updated 10.30am

Colonel Mark Mallia will be replacing Glenn Micallef as OPM head of secretariat, the government said on Wednesday.

It is unclear whether Micallef's resignation is connected to Labour's dramatic dip in voter majority in MEP elections earlier this month, though he was part of the team that led the PL's campaign.

That team, which also successfully led the 2022 general election campaign, included two of Robert Abela’s closest lieutenants – adviser Aleander Balzan and Micallef – as well as Malta Film Commission chief Johann Grech.

Micallef's resignation follows that of party deputy leader Daniel Micallef, who stepped down two days after the election.

On Wednesday, the OPM published a letter by Robert Abela in which the prime minister thanked Micallef for his professionalism, loyalty and integrity, and says he looked forward "to continue working for and serving the country".

He is being replaced by Mallia, who, in February, was appointed head of Transport Malta, less than two weeks after it was announced he would take over as chief executive of the Foundation for Medical Services.

He was previously CEO of Identity Malta, now Identità.

In a post on Facebook on Wednesday morning, Micallef said the termination was "planned".

"PM, as always planned, I will terminate my experience as head of your secretariat satisfied with our work for Malta, grateful for the opportunity and trust that you showed - and continued to show me - and, above all, personally satisfied with my work," he said.

In his post, Micallef also apologised to anyone he might have hurt or offended. 

Brussels future beckons

As an EU policy expert, Micallef is expected to continue to serve as Abela's 'sherpa', the official responsible for backroom dealing and technical negotiations at EU level.

He is also being tipped as a successor to Marlene Bonnici, who has been Permanent Representative of Malta to the EU since July 2020 and previously held the same office between 2012 and 2018.

If Micallef is given that role, it would mirror a previous situation under Lawrence Gonzi's government when Richard Cachia Caruana held both positions.

Another position that is up for grabs remains Malta's nomination for EU Commissioner after Chris Fearne dropped out following fraud charges. But it would be highly unusual for that job to go to a technocrat instead of a politician. 

However, time is running out for the prime minister to reveal his choice, with horse-trading for roles in the next Commission due to start soon.

Micallef is expected to travel with Abela on Thursday when the EU will likely confirm who will its next leadership team, including the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament, as well as the EU’s chief diplomat post.

Appointed in 2020

Micallef was appointed head of secretariat in November 2020, taking over from Clyde Caruana, who went on to be co-opted to parliament and appointed finance minister.

Caruana took on the role when Abela became prime minister earlier that year. Officials occupying that role were previously called 'chief of staff' but Abela changed the title to 'head of secretariat' when he assumed office.

The role was previously - and often controversially - held by Keith Schembri, who was Joseph Muscat's chief of staff and who now stands accused alongside Muscat, of serious corruption and money laundering charges over the hospitals deal.

One of the most powerful people

The role of the prime minister's head of secretariat is arguably one of the country's most powerful political positions.

They are the most senior political appointee at the OPM and serve as one of the prime minister's senior aides and advisors. They also coordinate work and staff at the prime minister's office and other government departments.

Micallef was one of the youngest people ever to hold the role. He graduated in economics from the University of Malta and was active in student political organisation Pulse.

Before becoming head of secretariat, Micallef served as Director General of Malta's EU Coordination Department and advisor to the Prime Minister on EU affairs. That role involved overseeing the government's coordination on EU-related matters.

But most recently, Micallef was trusted with coordinating a government committee tasked with implementing recommendations made by a public inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia.

The committee comprised Micallef and four ministers: Justice Minister Jonathan Attard, Planning Minister Clint Camilleri, Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and Economy Minister Silvio Schembri.