Frendo, Zammit Dimech sounded out for Speaker’s role
Former ministers Michael Frendo and Francis Zammit Dimech are being sounded out as possible candidates for the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives, once Louis Galea vacates the position to take up his post as member of the European Court of Auditors in Luxembourg.
Michael Frendo yesterday was unable to be contacted throughout the day, but government insiders confirmed the two MPs were asked what their feeling would be should they be appointed Speaker.
Francis Zammit Dimech said he has not been “officially approached” on the matter, although this newspaper is informed that the idea was put to him by political peers.
The departure of Louis Galea, who was not elected to parliament in 2008, leaves Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi with the choice to co-opt a new MP.
The former parliamentary secretary Helen d’Amato has reportedly been approached to be Speaker. Other reports that former European Commissioner Joe Borg was being considered were contrasted by news that Borg is considering private offers from foreign enterprises.
Frendo, a former foreign minister, was returned to parliament in 2008 thanks to a casual election after John Dalli vacated the seat, having already been elected on the seventh district.
If Frendo is made Speaker, this creates the possibility of Gonzi co-opting a new MP to parliament, while bolstering Frendo’s profile on his traditional ninth and tenth districts.
Francis Zammit Dimech on the other hand was elected to parliament thanks to one of the residual four seats the Nationalists took as part of the Constitutional guarantee for a one-seat majority. By being made Speaker, Zammit Dimech’s move would open the possibility of a casual election in the tenth district, with candidate Karl Gouder in with a chance for election. Other high-ranking candidates on the district included Pippo Psaila and Paul Borg Olivier, the PN’s secretary-general.
D’Amato was touted as a possible ally for Gonzi should she be appointed Speaker, in a bid to build her profile on the fifth electoral district where heavyweight Louis Galea was ousted by newcomer Franco Debono. As the highest vote-winner on the district, Debono would fine competition from d’Amato after having embarrassed the government by missing out on a crucial parliamentary vote.
In the meantime, other sections of the press report the possibility of shifting education minister Dolores Cristina back to the social policy ministry while Gozo minister Giovanna Debono would move to the education ministry as part of a reshuffle in the wake of John Dalli’s resignation from the Cabinet.
Parliamentary Secretary Joseph Cassar is expected to be promoted to health minister, with health being hived off the social policy ministry. Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said, currently responsible for public dialogue, has been touted for Gozo minister.
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