The President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, this afternoon presided over the Swearing-in Ceremony of the new Minister for Home Affairs and National Security, Carmelo Abela, at the Palace in Valletta.

The Ministry portfolio has been amended slightly, with the administration of the PBS now under the Ministry of Justice and Culture (under Owen Bonnici) and the film industry has moved to the Ministry of Tourism (under Edward Zammit Lewis).

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat officially dismissed Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia earlier today, as he had failed to submit his resignation as requested by the Prime Minister yesterday.

Dr Muscat had asked Manuel Mallia to resign yesterday evening, after he received the report of the inquiry into the shooting incident involving the Minister’s driver.

The Board of Inquiry had found that although Manuel Mallia was not part of an attempted cover-up, it had been his duty to ensure that an official statement about the incident was accurate, or that it was immediately corrected.

Dr Muscat said afterwards that Police officers, closer to Sheenan, who was the driver involved, had attempted a cover up. He added that “there is however no case of a political cover-up.”

Photograph: DOI/Jeremy Wonnacott

Permalink: Carmelo Abela sworn is as new Home Affairs Minister, Manuel Mallia dismissed