Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1465136
9 NEWS maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 20 APRIL 2022 Infrastructure Aaron Farrugia vs Ryan Callus Unclear portfolios While Aaron Farrugia is responsible for both infrastructure and capital projects, in the PN this portfolio has been split be- tween Delia and Callus. It remains unclear who is responsible for what. Moreover, mass transport solutions also require an infrastructural plan. This could be a recipe for confusion if the two politicians take different approaches to the same problems. But Callus' more technical input and scientific frame of mind may actually benefit Delia, if the two manage to work together. Foreign Affairs Ian Borg vs Beppe Fenech Adami Kicked upstairs? On paper, foreign affairs is one of the most prestigious ministries but it lacks in visible deliverables. In this sense both Ab- ela's decision to transfer Borg from roads to foreign affairs and Grech's decision to transfer Fenech Adami from home affairs to foreign affairs may have been a polite way to get them out of the way without ac- tually demoting them. Still, unlike Mario De Marco, the other dynastic heir, Fenech Adami was still giv- en a role by Grech. Moreover, with the war in the Ukraine taking centre stage and the energetic Borg already showing signs that he wants to leave his mark in this sector, Fenech Adami may be in for a challenge. Re-inventing Malta's active neutrality in the new global scenario could well the next big issue, along with the fragile situation in Libya. It remains to be seen whether in view of greater instability, the PN will push for stronger ties with NATO. Fenech Ad- ami's more combative style may also signal a departure from the friendly exchang- es between Evarist Bartolo and Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici. Education Clifton Grima vs Justin Schembri A learning curve in education To some extent both Grima and Schem- bri are unknown quantities who have yet to prove themselves in their respective roles. Grima was only appointed minister weeks before the general election following the forced resignation of Justyne Caruana, who on her part had found it hard to fill the shoes of predecessor Evarist Bartolo. On his part Schembri has just been elect- ed to parliament after a strong showing on the eighth district and after serving as minority leader on the Birkirkara local council. A teacher by profession, Schem- bri is expected to build bridges with a pro- fessional category which is suffering from reform fatigue and which over the years has become more disenchanted with both parties. Yet the country still faces important chal- lenges, including its relatively high rate of early school leavers, which may require further shakeups which leave teachers dis- oriented. Home Affairs Byron Camilleri vs Joe Giglio Law and Order Joe Giglio, a legal mind and one of the rising stars and moderate faces in the PN, now finds himself shadowing the govern- ment on sensitive issues like the treat- ment of inmates and immigrants, two issues where Labour has positioned itself as the 'law and order' party and where the PN has been largely reactive, particularly in its criticism of former prison director Alex Dalli who was reluctantly removed by Camilleri. It remains to be seen how Giglio will strike a balance between public apprehen- sions particularly on migration, and advo- cating a more humane approach. Still, despite his reluctance to sack Dalli over serious concerns on prisoner rights, Camilleri is also reputed to have clamped down on bullies in prison and investing on their rehabilitation. It remains hard to rec- oncile Malta's increasing cosmopolitan- ism with the daily bureaucratic difficulties faced by migrant communities. Justice Jonathan Attard vs Karol Aquilina Grech's token to the Daphne crowd? Karol Aquilina's appointment in the important justice portfolio suggests that the PN intends to keep on its pressure on government on pending inquiries related to Panamagate and the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia. But in so doing, Aquilina will now be facing Attard who represents a new breed which is less connected to the Muscat era. The arts and culture Owen Bonnici vs Julie Zahra The singer and the minister Julie Zahra, a former Eurovision sing- er and educator who found the solidarity of the artistic community after a govern- ment minister took a dig at her past as a performer, could be in a strong position of building bridges between her party and the artistic community. Owen Bonnici, himself a pioneer of im- portant legal changes like the removal of draconian censorship, will have to step up his act especially in promoting a national cultural policy and in engaging in dialogue with a category which tends to be rebel- lious and iconoclastic. Owen Bonnici will also face the scruti- ny of two other PN newcomers in Darren Carabott who will shadow him on local government and Graham Bencini on pub- lic broadcasting. Gozo Clint Camilleri vs Alex Borg The new district heavy weights Gozo has seen a changing of the guard, with Clint Camilleri replacing Anton Refalo as the party's strongest district candidate and Alex Borg replacing Chris Said in the opposition. Borg's success in Gozo also came in the wake of his crit- icism of NGOs like Repubblika, which was associated with the anti-Delia fac- tion in the PN. Grech has recognized the wishes of the electorate and has crowned Borg's suc- cess with the Gozo portfolio. Still while Borg – whose father served as Giovanna Debono's chief of staff for 15 years – has emerged as a formidable force, he re- mains an unknown quality with regards to rampant overdevelopment in Gozo, limiting himself to saying that "we have to find a balance between development and the environment to keep those char- acteristics that make Gozo different". Hunting and Trapping Clint Camilleri vs Charles Azzopardi United in hobbies Apart from scrutinising the govern- ment on inflation, Charles Azzopardi, a former Labour candidate and mayor of Rabat, will also be shadowing Clint Camilleri on hunting and trapping. In so doing he will have to thread a fine line between appeasing hunters and not offending a majority of PN voters who voted against spring hunting in the 2015 referendum. Azzopardi's appointment shows de- termination by Grech to reconnect with large swathes of rural Malta where the party has lost sway. His portfolio, which includes other hobbies, is reminiscent of the hunting lobby's successful alliance with other hobbyists during the referen- dum campaign. But any appeasement to this powerful lobby is bound to alienate green voters as well as a large section of Nationalist vot- ers who resent the power of this lobby. Equality Rebecca Buttigieg vs Graziella Attard Previ The feminist challenge Although 'equality' falls under Byron Camilleri's mega ministry, Abela has al- so appointed Rebecca Buttigieg – who previously served as Camilleri's com- munications coordinator – as a junior minister focused on this issue. Former Sliema mayor Graziella Attard Previ will shadow her. With women's rights groups calling for stronger laws against femicide and push- ing the boundaries on themes like abor- tion, the PN's conservative approach will be severely tested in the coming years. This makes Attard Previ's task harder but much also depends on how far Butt- igieg will go. It also remains to be seen whether this administration will recommence discus- sion on a discarded equality bill aimed at addressing discrimination in the pro- vision of services in both the public and private sector. Less controversial matches Not much controversy is expected in the other matchups like social policy, where PN stalwart and deputy leader David Agius will be shadowing Michael Falzon, himself a former deputy leader of his own party. On inclusion and disability, Graziella Galea will be shadowing Julia Farrugia Portelli. Housing Minister Roderick Gal- des will once again by shadowed by Ivan Bartolo whose portfolio also includes poverty. Toni Bezzina who has been transferred from transport to make way for Adrian Delia will shadow Agriculture Minister Anton Refalo. Hotelier Robert Arrigo will once again be shadowing tourism minister Clayton Bartolo and new Minister Jo Etienne Abela will be shadowed by Paula Mifsud Bonnici. cabinet compare to Abela's team of Ministers? Byron Camilleri vs Joe Giglio