[ANALYSIS] How Delia’s reshuffled PN bench compares to Muscat’s Cabinet

Delia’s choice of a new shadow cabinet exposes the Opposition’s restricted talent pool after a general election which failed to secure new blood for a party in need of a generational change. Yet as certain cabinet members start showing signs of fatigue, some of Delia’s choices might actually work.

Adrian Delia VS Owen Bonnici

PN leader Adrian Delia will be taking on Justice Minister Owen Bonnici. This will see the leader of the Opposition confronting a sitting minister and not only the Prime Minister.   This decision comes in the wake of a clash between Delia and Bonnici after the latter gave MEPs the impression that the Opposition was backing government on the rule law.

Bonnici will also be shadowed by Therese Comodini Cachia on culture and by Robert Cremona on local councils. Cremona’s experience in the field as a former mayor puts him at an advantage in confronting parliamentary secretary Silvio Parnis.

Simon Busuttil VS All The Government

Simon Busuttil’s good governance portfolio is so extensive that it risks cementing his role as a parallel source of authority in the party even if this appointment may be seen as a sop to internal dissent in the wake of the perceived demotion of Jason Azzopardi and Karol Aquilina.

Still Busuttil now finds himself shadowing the whole government on the all-encompassing issue of good governance.  He will also be shadowing government on the issue where it is failing most.

It surely offers Busuttil the opportunity to continue what he started before the general election, especially in view of pending inquiries on Minister Konrad Mizzi and OPM chief-of-staff Keith Schembri.

But it also offers Delia the opportunity to focus on other issues while leaving the corruption issue, which has slipped in the list of popular concerns, in Busuttil’s hands while keeping him in his team.

This decision surely represented a u-turn for Delia who some months ago declared that Simon Busuttil should have followed Gonzi’s lead and resigned from parliament.

Beppe Fenech Adami VS Michael Farrugia 

The Home Affairs  portfolio gives Fenech Adami visibility in an area where he enjoys an edge over Michael Farrugia when it comes to communication and stature.  Interestingly the portfolio brief refers to the  “fight against criminality” which underlines the rise of criminality in surveys on popular concerns.

Chris Said VS Justyne Caruana 

Delia’s leadership rival Chris Said has retained the Gozo portfolio, albeit sharing this responsibility with Delia loyalist Frederick Azzopardi who is responsible for education and social affairs in Gozo. Both will be shadowing Justyne Caruana, the soft-spoken Minister who has taken the mantle from the more  abrasive district strongman Anton Refalo. Said will also be shadowing junior minister Julia Farrugia Portelli on constitutional reform. This provides Said with the opportunity to leave an impact on the national level.

Kristy Debono VS Chris Cardona

Kristy Debono, the newly elected president of the PN general council, will be facing Economy Minister Chris Cardona.  While Cardona remains one of the cabinet’s most divisive and macho figures, his portfolio is linked to the government’s economic success.  Although Debono has a good grounding of economic issues, she will be expected to step up her act to convince the electorate that the Opposition can deliver on both prosperity and sustainability.

Clyde Puli/ Karl Gouder VS Evarist Bartolo

PN general secretary Clyde Puli will be shadowing veteran Labour Minister Evarist Bartolo.  In this way one of the most politically charged PN exponents will be facing one of the least divisive Labour Ministers. While Bartolo’s star has waned ever since allegations on his former canvasser Edward Caruana surfaced,  he is still piloting reforms opening new pathways for students who have till now been left behind.   But with Puli replacing Therese Commodini Cachia, Bartolo may now find himself under increased scrutiny on contentious issues like the university reform and the license granted to the AUM.

One innovation in the shadow cabinet is Karl Gouder shadowing Bartolo on employment. This represents an element of innovation in the PN’s shadow cabinet in an area where the government is delivering when it comes to numbers, but where precariousness and the influx of foreign labour represent new challenges.

Portelli/Bezzina VS Ian Borg

Ian Borg will be confronted by Tony Bezzina on transport and infrastructure and by Marthese Portelli on capital projects and planning.  With transport high on the list of popular concerns, it is unclear whether the abrasive Bezzina is the best opposition member to take on Borg but he may use the portfolio to represent the grievances of constituents. Portelli who replaces Ryan Callus in the planning portfolio, may also find herself in a difficult position, in reconciling the expectations of civil society and those of big business on issues like high rise developments.

David Agius VS Joe Mizzi

Deputy Leader and Delia loyalist David Agius will be shadowing veteran Labour stalwart Joe Mizzi. Neither Agius nor Mizzi are particularly prolific in their depth on energy and water issues but Agius may come across as less abrasive than Mizzi. It is unclear why Delia has decided to give his deputy leader such an important but bland portfolio.

The major decisions impacting the energy sector including the partial privatisation of the sector and the conversion to LNG have already been taken under Konrad Mizzi. But the Opposition will now be expected to decide whether to renew Simon Busuttil’s commitment to renege on the agreement with Electrogas and buy energy from the best bidder.

David Agius who recently caused a stir in the party by attending the inauguration of the Valletta local council in place of the Café Premier, may be sitting on another minefield.

Buttigieg/Stellini VS Helena Dalli

Minister Helena Dalli finds herself shadowed by Claudette Buttigieg who has assumed the equality and civil liberties portfolio and by David Stellini who has assumed the European affairs portfolio.  Buttigieg’s LGBTI-friendly image may reassure liberal voters that there is no turning back on rights gained under Dalli’s tutelage. While Dalli retains an edge when it comes to stature and intellect, Buttigieg may strike a popular chord and is less aloof.  On the other hand David Stellini, who is technically prepared for the role, may give the PN an edge in European affairs. The addition of Brexit to his portfolio was a smart move. But in this role, Stellini will also be facing parliamentary secretary Aaron Farrugia, one of the most promising among Labour's young turks.  

Stephen Spiteri VS Chris Fearne

Stephen Spiteri, a Delia loyalist and popular family doctor who got elected by 4671 votes on the second district has retained his role as Chris Fearne’s counterpart.  But despite his ability to reach out to constituents he still has to prove his gravitas on national policy issues.

His interlocutor Chris Fearne, one of the government’s most popular elements. is currently under fire over a failed major health investment by Vitals negotiated by his predecessor Konrad Mizzi.  Instead of reaping this advantage, Spiteri found himself investigated by the Medical Council following allegations – which he denied – that he sold medical certificates without seeing patients. Mario Galea, who in the past spoke openly about his problem with depression, will retain his mental health portfolio thus underlining the importance given by the Opposition this crucial issue.

Carm Mifsud Bonnici VS Carmelo Abela

Two former Home Affairs ministers have ended up facing each other on one of the least divisive issues in Maltese politics even if Malta’s geopolitical alignments,  often tied to energy deals, may deserve more scrutiny.

Jason Azzopardi VS Jose Herrera

Jason Azzopardi whose sole major  contribution to the environment was piloting the Public Domain Act, finds himself shadowing the affable Jose Herrera after having his justice portfolio snatched by Delia himself.

Yet this gives Azzopardi the opportunity  to retain his visibility on an issue which is rising in surveys on public concerns. But Azzopardi’s brief does not include planning and is limited to shadowing the toothless Environment and Resources Authority.

He may also find himself in a difficult position when articulating his party’s position on contentious issues like hunting, trapping, high-rise development and ODZ petrol stations where the party is often caught chasing with the hounds while running with the hares.

Mario de Marco VS Edward Scicluna

While de Marco has gravitas and is a better communicator than Edward Scicluna, the latter retains a technocratic edge.  De Marco presently occupies a similar interim position to that assumed by Charles Mangion when Muscat was the PL’s opposition leader.  The PN has so far failed in recruiting a technocratic figure of the same pedigree as Scicluna to flank de Marco.

Karol Aquilina VS Julia Farrugia Portelli 

Karol Aquilina finds himself demoted from the more appealing environment portfolio to shadowing Julia Farrugia Portelli, the popular junior minister responsible for citizenship and administrative processes.

Aquilina’s demotion comes in the wake of a tweet in which he declared his opposition to high-rise development following the PA’s approval of the Mercury House project. Yet Aquilina’s role is not to be underestimated. Aquilina’s appointment suggests that the party will not bend in its opposition to the IIP programme.   

Other Opposition spokespersons who will be shadowing parliamentary secretaries include Delia loyalist Hermann Schiavone who will be pitted against upcomingAaron Farrugia on social dialogue and Maria Deguara who will be shadowing Anthony Agius Decelis on active ageing and disability. Apart from his mental health portfolio, Mario Galea will be shadowing Clint Camilleri on animal rights. Camilleri will also be shadowed on agriculture and fisheries by Edwin Vassallo. Ryan Callus has also seen his portfolio changed from planning to that of shadowing Clifton Grima on youths, sports and the fight against obesity.

Robert Arrigo VS Konrad Mizzi 

PN constituency strongman Robert Arrigo who now also occupies the role of deputy leader, has retained the tourism portfolio shadowing Konrad Mizzi, a minister whose permanence in cabinet is now openly questioned  on a European level.  Arrigo may occupy a crucial role in  his party in bridging with hoteliers and the business community but still has to prove his credentials as a policy maker on a national level.   His big test will be shadowing Konrad Mizzi on the future of Airmalta.

Claudio Grech VS Michael falzon 

Claudio Grech, formerly an economy spokesperson once touted for a PN leadership bid, will be taking on Michael Falzon as the party’s new social policy spokesperson. Grech’s appointment creates problems for Labour in an area where the vacuum left by Marie Louise Coleiro Preca was never adequately filled and where Grech can clearly outshine Falzon. The addition of “the rights of the unborn child’ underlines Grech’s conservatism on an issue where he is in synch with the majority.

Grech social policy portfolio also fits well with his  constituency interest in the first district where his Save a Life Foundation has the mission of helping under-privileged communities.

Ivan Bartolo, the party’s spokesperson on social accommodation, poverty and social exclusion, will flank Grech.  This may compensate for Grech more business-like approach to social policy.  It remains to be seen whether under Grech, the party will move from the welfare state model to a ‘big society’ one in which the private sector has a bigger role in providing services.