Farrugia to get social policy in reshuffle planned for end-March

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is planning to announce a Cabinet reshuffle imminently with a finalised line-up for the 26 March.

It was originally planned for 15 March, but it appears that it will be closer to the change of presidency on April 4 when Marie Louise Coleiro Preca hangs up her ministerial shoes, and steps in as George Abela’s successor.

The reshuffle comes on the eve of Muscat’s next choice for the replacement of Tonio Borg as European Commissioner.

The first major change is envisaged in health, which will fall under the prime minister with a newly-appointed parliamentary secretary on health. 

Godfrey Farrugia, elected for the first time in March 2013, is expected to be given the social policy mega-portfolio, despite having had a lacklustre performance on health so far.

Gozo MP Justyne Caruana is earmarked to take Franco Mercieca’s post as parliamentary secretary responsible for the elderly.  Mercieca was said to have  pleaded with the Prime Minister to accept his resignation from junior minister, so that he can return to his professional work as an ophthalmic surgeon.

Back in March, he was the unprecedented beneficiary of a “waiver” on the Code of Ethics for ministers, which forbids them from continuing their private profession: Mercieca was allowed to carry out limited work in a state hospital. But Mercieca is known to have complained with his aides that he felt “soulless” after having given up his profession.

The big decision Muscat faces is with the finance portfolio. Edward Scicluna is said to have left a neutral impact, delegating much of what should be a ‘hands-on’ ministry to civil servants. Still, Muscat may not find it easy to replace the man who has to keep his budget in line with eurozone criteria.

His two favourite junior ministers – Owen Bonnici and Edward Zammit Lewis – respectively justice and competiveness parliamentary secretaries, are up for promotion. None of them are moulded for the finance portfolio, which is traditionally reserved for a person who has a suitable economic background.

But a reshuffle might be an occasion to upgrade Bonnici to a ministry for justice, where he has proved himself in handling criminal justice reform and the citizenship scheme.

Despite his apparent unpopularity, there appears to be no intention of changing minster for home affairs and national security Manuel  Mallia, in spite of being severely criticised by the Nationalist opposition. 

With Coleiro Preca’s departure, a casual election could see the return of Enemalta chairman Charles Mangion back to the parliamentary bench. He was formerly a minister for justice and local councils between 1996 and 1998, and later was shadow finance minister.