Revealed: This is Robert Abela's new cabinet
21 ministers and two parliamentary secretaries will sit at Abela's executive table
Updated 8pm
Ian Borg will serve as Health Minister in a new-look cabinet that also sees major trust placed in Jonathan Attard and Glenn Bedingfield.
Robert Abela’s cabinet for the upcoming legislature will feature 21 ministers and two parliamentary secretaries.
Gozo retains its ministerial troika, with all three of its MPs there handed full portfolios, and the first district gets two representatives in cabinet, having ended the last legislature with none.
Abela’s new team is made up of familiar faces – everyone assigned a role has previous experience as a minister or parliamentary secretary – but many have been given new roles.
One notable exception is Clyde Caruana, who retains his previous title of Finance Minister, as expected.
Michael Falzon and Julia Farrugia also retain their previous portfolios: Falzon will serve as Minister for Social Policy & Family, while Farrugia is again in charge of Inclusion & the Voluntary Sector.
Some other ministers were given variations to their previous roles.
Silvio Schembri will continue to serve as Economy Minister but has now had responsibility for Technology and Strategic Projects added to his portfolio.
Miriam Dalli also retains her portfolio as Energy and Environment Minister with responsibility for Grand Harbour regeneration.
Clint Camilleri in Valletta. Photo: Matthew MirabelliClint Camilleri will also continue to serve as Gozo Minister, though he will have less on his plate as political responsibility for planning has been reassigned away from him.
His Gozitan colleague Anton Refalo will also retain his previous role as Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, though he will no longer have a parliamentary secretary under his wing.
Elsewhere, it is all change.
Jonathan Attard, the previous justice minister, has been given a big task in heading a new super ministry combining Infrastructure, Planning and Employment.
Glenn Bedingfield enters OPM. Photo: Matthew MirabelliAnd Glenn Bedingfield, who served as a parliamentary secretary for public cleansing in the previous legislature, gets a major promotion by being appointed Home Affairs Minister.
Bedingfield’s promotion allows Byron Camilleri – who had been angling for a new role after six years leading the Home Affairs portfolio – to be appointed Minister for Education and Sports. Sources said his remit will also include responsibility for Citizenship, including the National Development and Social Fund.
His move frees up the former Education and Sports Minister, Clifton Grima, who will now be given ministerial responsibility of the challenging and prestigious Justice portfolio, along with oversight of Research and Innovation.
Keith Azzopardi Tanti enters OPM. Photo: Matthew MirabelliAnother MP given a ministerial promotion is Keith Azzopardi Tanti. The 1st district MP will serve as EU Funds, Social Dialogue and Competition Minister, having ended the previous legislature as a parliamentary secretary.
Jo Etienne Abela, whose previous Health portfolio will now be handled by Ian Borg, will in turn assume some of Borg’s former responsibilities: the Gozitan surgeon will now serve as Tourism Minister, overseeing what is effectively Malta’s single biggest economic sector.
Chris Fearne seen entering Castille. Photo: Matthew MirabelliIt will be a return to the cabinet for Chris Fearne, who was comfortably elected on two districts. The former deputy prime minister and health minister will serve as Foreign and European Affairs Minister, representing Malta overseas after his shot at serving as EU Commissioner was scuppered by prosecutors filing criminal charges against him.
While Chris Bonett has seen the Infrastructure part of his ministerial portfolio reassigned elsewhere, he will now be able to focus entirely on Transport, with that remit now dubbed “Sustainable Mobility”.
Owen Bonnici will serve as minister for Housing, which was previously the responsibility of Roderick Galdes and then Andy Ellul, while also retaining the powerful Lands portfolio he held at the end of the last legislature.
Owen Bonnici in Castille Square. Photo: Matthew MirabelliMalcolm Paul Agius Galea, who served as a parliamentary secretary in the previous legislature, was promoted to full minister, responsible for the Arts, Culture and National Heritage. Judging by his body language following his meeting with Abela, the Żebbuġ GP was hoping for a different portfolio.
Alison Zerafa Civelli also gets a promotion: she will retain responsibility for local councils but also be responsible for overseeing public works. And unlike the previous legislature, she will lead that portfolio as a full minister.
And Rosianne Cutajar, who was reintegrated into the Labour Party after she was booted out in the middle of the last legislature, returns to cabinet as a minister. She will operate on familiar territory, tasked with overseeing equality and civil rights. She handled a similar portfolio as a parliamentary secretary between 2020 and 2022.
Rosianne Cutajar enters Castille. Photo: Matthew MirabelliOmar Farrugia has also been promoted to minister after a strong electoral showing: he will be responsible for Youth, Wellbeing and Implementation of Labour’s electoral manifesto.
Deo Debattista, who was left out of cabinet in the previous legislature, makes a return to the executive: he will be parliamentary secretary responsible for active ageing, reporting to Ian Borg.
Alicia Bugeja Said will once again serve as a parliamentary secretary, tasked solely with overseeing Animal Welfare. She will report to Miriam Dalli’s Environment Ministry.
As it happened
Congrats trickle in
8pm Soon after the DOI announced the new cabinet, the Malta Union of Teachers congratulated the new education minister Byron Camilleri.
The union thanked former minister Clifton Grima for the extensive work carried out in the education sector in the past years, especially the sectoral agreement reached for 2023 and 2027 and the corresponding agreements with other educational institutions.
Forum Unions Maltin meanwhile congratulated Keith Azzopardi Tanti, who is now responsible for social dialogue, while thanking Andy Ellul for his work in social dialogue during the past legislature.
The General Workers’ Union added its voice to those welcoming the appointment of the new Cabinet. It said it looked forward to continuing to work constructively with the government to strengthen workers’ rights, improve working conditions, and further advance the country’s social and economic development.
It reiterated that social dialogue remained the most effective way to address current and future challenges while creating more opportunities for workers and their families.
Reports: Clifton Grima for Justice
6pm More from the grapevine: the Justice Ministry vacated by Attard's reputed shift to Infrastructure and Planning is expected to be filled by Clifton Grima, who was comfortably re-elected in both districts 9 and 10.
Reports: Jonathan Attard poised for a super-ministry
5.42pm Still no white smoke.
In the meantime, here's another one from the rumour mill: Jonathan Attard, who previously served as Justice Minister, is expected to be given a very different portfolio this time around.
Sources tell us Attard is set to become Malta's next Planning Minister, with additional responsibility for Infrastructure and Employment. That would be a huge ministry if it turns out to be true.
Who needs the DOI when you've got Wikipedia?
5.20pm Keith Azzopardi Tanti is rumoured to be up for a promotion to minister: sources say he'll be put in charge of EU Funds, Competition and Social Dialogue.
Someone was busy on Wikipedia earlier today - his official Wiki entry was edited just before 2pm to note that he is minister for EU funds.
An updated Wikipedia page.Reports: Owen Bonnici for Housing and Lands
4.55pm Owen Bonnici ended the last legislature as Culture and Lands minister. We're hearing he will most likely retain the latter role but also assume ministerial responsibility for Housing.
In the last legislature, Housing was under Roderick Galdes and then, following Galdes' resignation, Andy Ellul.
As for Culture - we're hearing that will be assigned to Malcolm Paul Agius Galea, as minister.
Reports: Jo Etienne Abela to be Tourism Minister
4.38pm The rumour mill keeps grinding. It appears Ian Borg and Jo Etienne Abela will effectively swap places. Borg, as we wrote earlier, is tipped to be Health Minister. And now we're hearing reports that Abela, the previous Health Minister, is likely to be appointed Tourism Minister - half of Borg's previous role.
Sources: Bedingfield for home affairs, Byron Camilleri for Education
4.25pm We're hearing unconfirmed reports that Glenn Bedingfield is poised for a big promotion, to Home Affairs Minister.
Byron Camilleri, who spent six years in that challenging role, is expected to be appointed Education and Sports Minister.
Keep in mind these are unconfirmed reports at this stage - we still don't have any official list.
Refalo and Abela
3.50pm Journalists did not spot Anton Refalo and Jo Etienne Abela entering Castille, but we're informed they both met with the prime minister. Perhaps they snuck in through a side door?
Meetings over
3.25pm We're informed Robert Abela has spoken to everyone he intends to appoint to his cabinet. He will now be finalising the details on the list of ministers and parliamentary secretaries before making his new cabinet public through the Department of Information.
Two notable absentees who we did not spot in Valletta today - Jo Etienne Abela and Anton Refalo. Robert Abela may have spoken to the two by phone, though.
Sources: Ian Borg to lead Health
3.10pm Ian Borg is expected to be appointed Health Minister, sources tell us, with additional responsibility for capital projects. He's not been seen around Castille today but is believed to have spoken to Robert Abela late yesterday.
Chris Bonett: 'I always felt trusted'
2.42pm Chris Bonett thanks journalists for their work but says his lips are sealed.
"You know the drill," he tells the press pack.
"I always felt trusted by the prime minister, in anything that I've served."
Bonett was Transport and Infrastructure Minister in the previous legislature.
Keith Azzopardi Tanti exits meeting
2.25pm Keith Azzopardi Tanti strode out of his meeting with Robert Abela saying he is feeling "very happy".
He's not giving anything away, though. "You'll find out later," he says when asked if he'll be a junior minister or minister once again.
Owen Bonnici: 'It's a privilege to serve'
2.10pm Owen Bonnici heavily hints that he'll be back in cabinet.
"It's a great privilege to serve," he tells journalists as he exits his meeting. "There is no greater honour than serving your country. I've been doing it since 2013 and I don't take a single day for granted.... it's a very humbling experience."
Smiles for Dalli and Grima
1.42pm Miriam Dalli is out, and she says she had a "good meeting".
"I'm convinced Robert Abela is going to have a strong cabinet," she tells journalists.
And Clifton Grima follows out a short while later. He's smiling and says the prime minister has "shown trust" in him.
Rosianne Cutajar at Castille
1.25pm Rosianne Cutajar, who was reelected following a tumultuous legislature that saw her ejected and then reintegrated into Labour, is meeting with the prime minister.
Cutajar previously served as a junior minister and will be pushing to return to cabinet after proving her 6th district vote-drawing power.
Rosianne Cutajar enters Castille. Photo: Matthew MirabelliMiriam Dalli, Keith Azzopardi Tanti in
1.05pm Miriam Dalli was spotted entering Castille a while back. She did very well in the election, being reelected in two districts, and is a strong contender to be confirmed as minister.
And Keith Azzopardi Tanti, who led all candidates on district 1, will be gunning for another cabinet spot after serving as parliamentary secretary for research and innovation in the previous legislature. He's also in Castille at the moment.
Keith Azzopardi Tanti enters OPM. Photo: Matthew MirabelliClint Camilleri rumours
1pm Clint Camilleri said little as he emerged from his meeting with the prime minister, fleeing the press pack with a brief "I'm very happy".
Earlier, we hinted he may have planning stripped from his portfolio; those rumours have only grown stronger.
Camilleri is believed to have retained ministerial responsibility for Gozo but will almost certainly no longer be planning minister, sources tell us.
Chris Bonett in Castille
12.53pm We cited Chris Bonett as one of Labour's winners in an analysis of the 2026 election result. He's now in Castille, waiting to hear from the prime minister.
Will he retain the Transport and Infrastructure Ministry he led until last month? It's a powerful role, but a somewhat thankless one too.
Chris Bonett enters the OPM, surrounded by journalists. Photo: Matthew MirabelliClifton Grima and Owen Bonnici enter
12.45pm It's Clifton Grima's turn to meet with the prime minister. He served as Education and Sports minister in the previous legislature. And while he lost some votes when compared to 2022, he was easily elected on two districts once again.
We also spotted Owen Bonnici entering the office of the prime minister. Bonnici is a veteran at this stage, having served in various cabinet posts since 2013, most recently as Culture and Lands Minister. He also did well in the election, increasing his tally in a hard-fought District 3.
Owen Bonnici in Castille Square. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Clifton Grima enters Castille. Photo: Matthew MirabelliZerafa Civelli: 'PM decides in national interest'
12.39pm Alison Zerafa Civelli says she is "happy with the prime minister's plans for me".
"But it's not about me, I'm happy for the country. The prime minister decides in the national interest," she says as she exits Castille.
An addition to the ministerial fleet?
12.35pm It appears Labour victory celebrations are well and truly over: one of the bangers party supporters kitted out for Sunday's celebrations is now up for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Yours for just €1,000.
Yours for €1,000.Omar Farrugia, Julia Farrugia enter
12.30pm Two (unrelated) Farrugias have entered Castille: Omar Farrugia and Julia Farrugia. Both can be proud of their electoral performance, and both formed part of Abela's previous cabinet.
Omar Farrugia was elected behind Abela on district 5; and on district 7, only Ian Borg got more Labour votes than Julia Farrugia.
Julia Farrugia enters Castille. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli
Omar Farrugia in Valletta on Wednesday. Photo: Matthew MirabelliBeaming Byron
12.20pm Byron Camilleri is out of Castille. He did not give any information, save for saying that he was "very happy".
"I'm very satisfied with our discussions, and I'm happy with the work I will be doing in the coming years," he said.
That suggests to us that his previous portfolio - Home Affairs, Security and Employment - may be reassigned, or at the very least carved up.
Alicia Bugeja Said, Michael Falzon enter
12.05pm Alicia Bugeja Said had a great campaign: she was elected on district 12 and did well in a tough district 3 race. In 2022 she was elected through the gender corrective mechanism and subsequently served as a parliamentary secretary.
We've spotted her entering Castille.
Michael Falzon, who has served in cabinet posts since 2014, has also been seen entering the office of the prime minister.
"I'll accept any decision," he told journalists as he entered.
Alicia Bugeja Said enters OPM. Photo: Matthew MirabelliMalcolm Paul Agius Galea: 'A challenge'
11.57am Malcolm Paul Agius Galea emerged from the meeting saying he faces a "challenge".
But he appeared somewhat dejected - our journalist heard tourists strolling through Castille Square remarking "seems he's not happy". We'll have to wait and see.
Earlier, I mentioned that Agius Galea was elected behind Ian Borg on the 7th. That was incorrect: Julia Farrugia obtained more votes on the district.
The planning hot potato
11.55am In the last legislature, responsibility for the Planning Authority was bundled into Clint Camilleri’s Gozo ministry.
But we’re hearing rumours that could change: Camilleri reportedly had reservations about a much-contested reform of planning laws.
The question then becomes: who will get planning?
One theory is that it will be assigned to Jonathan Attard, who oversaw significant reforms within the construction sector. An industry player told us he’d be well-received: “he’s fair, clean and disciplined, and we need discipline,” he said of Attard.
Another, opposing rumour making the rounds is that Abela may decide to reassign that portfolio to his deputy Ian Borg, who served as planning minister in the past.
Keep in mind - these are nothing more than unconfirmed rumours at this stage.
Clint Camilleri, Alison Zerafa Civelli enter
11.45am Two more potential cabinet members have been spotted outside the Office of the Prime Minister: Clint Camilleri, who led the Labour pack in Gozo and served as Gozo and Planning Minister in the last legislature; and Alison Zerafa Civelli (district 2), who previously served as parliamentary secretary for local government.
Clint Camilleri in Valletta. Photo: Matthew MirabelliThe rumour mill
11.40am Potential ministers are keeping their lips sealed as they enter and exit their OPM meetings - but the rumour mill within broader government circles is now in overdrive.
Among the absolutely unconfirmed rumours swirling around: Deo Debattista (elected on district 1) is to serve as parliamentary secretary for active ageing [a role Malcolm Paul Agius Galea previously had] and Glenn Bedingfield (district 2) will be promoted to full minister.
Abela's advisors
11.25am Deciding who is assigned each portfolio is ultimately Robert Abela's decision, but the prime minister makes those decisions following consultation with his trusted advisors.
Among the people we're informed he discussed his options with: his chief of staff Mark Mallia, cabinet secretary Ryan Spagnol, deputy leader Ian Borg and even parliamentary speaker Anglu Farrugia.
Here's Farrugia outside Castille earlier today.
Anglu Farrugia. Photo: Matthew MirabelliByron Camilleri, Malcolm Paul Agius Galea enter
11.22pm Meanwhile, we've seen two other people enter Castille: former home affairs minister Byron Camilleri and former junior minister Malcolm Paul Agius Galea.
The latter will be hoping for a promotion, having been elected behind Ian Borg and Julia Farrugia on the 7th district. Byron Camilleri may be due a move away from home affairs: he had tried to resign that portfolio in the last legislature following a shock heist from an AFM base, but was convinced to stay on.
Silvio Schembri 'happy'
11.20am Silvio Schembri is out of his meeting. He wouldn't tell us what was discussed - "the prime minister will speak" - but he did acknowledge that he was "happy."
Silvio Schembri and Jonathan Attard
11.05am Two key members of Abela's previous cabinet - economy minister Silvio Schembri and justice minister Jonathan Attard -have both been spotted entering Castille.
Schembri managed the economy portfolio during a time of significant economic prosperity for the country, but bled votes in the general election; Attard performed extremely strongly at the polls, being elected from two districts on opposite sides of the country.
Silvio Schembri smiles as he enters Castille. Photo: Matthew MirabelliCarmelo Abela and Glenn Bedingfield
11.01am Carmelo Abela and Glenn Bedingfield have been spotted entering Castille.
Abela is a super-veteran at this stage: he was first elected in 1996 and has had several cabinet roles throughout the years, though he ended the last legislature on the Labour backbench.
Bedingfield was elected comfortably on the second district and served as junior minister for public cleansing in Abela's last cabinet.
Glenn Bedingfield enters OPM. Photo: Matthew MirabelliHow big a cabinet?
10.52am Robert Abela's previous cabinet featured 15 ministers and eight parliamentary secretaries, for a total of 23 MPs. That made it significantly smaller than the 27-strong executive team he had in 2024 - the biggest in history.
Abela could potentially decide to reserve some cabinet roles for candidates he believes will enter parliament through casual elections or the gender corrective mechanism, adding them to his executive team at a later stage.
Casual Caruana
10.49am Daniel Ellul had the briefest of exchanges with Clyde Caruana as he entered Castille.
It's shaping up to be a good day for him: the European Commission is expected to announce later this morning that Malta has been formally taken off its excessive deficit procedure fiscal naughty step. We'll have more on that soon.
Abela spoke to Ian Borg
10.44am We're told Abela spoke to his deputy leader Ian Borg yesterday or early this morning to discuss his potential picks.
One of the 'big changes' could be in Borg's portfolio. Borg ended the last legislature with an odd combination of Foreign Affairs and Tourism. After four years of representing Malta on foreign shores, Abela may decide to bring his deputy back home.
Big changes planned?
10.42am Practically every member of Abela's previous cabinet was reelected, with three exceptions: Andy Ellul, Rebecca Buttigieg and Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi. Ellul and Buttigieg could potentially return through casual elections or the gender corrective mechanism.
Zrinzo Azzopardi called it a day and did not run for reelection.
That means that Abela could, in theory, leave things relatively unchanged from the way they were when he dissolved parliament in late April.
But sources tell us he does not intend to do that: one said "big changes" are on the horizon. We'll have to see what that means in practice.
What's clear is that Abela has to balance multiple factors when picking his cabinet: strong electoral performances must be rewarded, different electoral districts covered and individuals' skills or areas of expertise put to good use.
Clyde Caruana spotted
10.31am Clyde Caruana has now entered the Office of the Prime Minister.
If there’s a foregone conclusion in today’s game of musical chairs, it’s this one. Labour based much of its campaign on Caruana’s competence and success as finance minister, and Abela made it clear he believes his onetime chief of staff is the best man for the job.
Chris Fearne enters Castille
10.20am Is Fearne poised for a return to cabinet? The former Health Minister was reelected on two districts - and we've now seen him entering the Office of the Prime Minister.
That indicates Robert Abela intends to include him in his executive team. Fearne had bowed out after facing criminal charges in connection with the hospitals privatisation case. That case remains ongoing.
Chris Fearne seen entering Castille. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli