Franco Mercieca ‘was not satisfied’ as parliamentary secretary for elderly

Franco Mercieca, the former parliamentary secretary for the elderly and disability rights, has stated that his resignation from his position in Aprtil, was because he "was not satisfied with his position," and that despite his short-lived tenure, he will contest the forthcoming general election.

Speaking to Sunday newspaper Illum, Mercieca - who has since been replaced by Justyne Caruana - said he did not have a choice what role and portfolio he would be handed.

“I didn’t like that position and I therefore chose to continue working in my profession. I chose to work in hospital on Sundays on a voluntary basis because it used to give me an adrenaline boost,” the ophthalmologist said.

Asked which role he would have liked to occupy, Mercieca gave a terse reply, stating that "who needs to know already knows."

Notwithstanding his short-lived tenure as a junior minister, Mercieca has however, confirmed that will contest the general elections again.

“I am aware of rumours saying that I’m not going to contest the next general election, but I am definitely going to contest again,” Mercieca said.

Mercieca has since been appointed chairman of a board that runs the Gozo hospital. He denied that he was only given this position as a compensation after resigning as parliamentary secretary though.

“They asked me to help out in the Gozo hospital and I accepted,” Merceica said. “It is a voluntary job because what I do for Gozo comes from my heart.”

Despite his resignation, it is unlikely that Malta’s political scene has seen the last of Mercieca.

Read the full interview in Sunday’s edition of ILLUM.