Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/734031
7 MATTHEW VELLA LABOUR'S former deputy leader for party af- fairs, Toni Abela, is likely to be made a judge in a forthcoming appointment by the justice minister, after the 58-year-old lawyer sat for an interview before the Commission for the Administration of Justice. Another candidate, Gozitan lawyer Grazio Mer- cieca, also submitted his interest for a post in the judiciary. The applications form part of the new, open process of selecting members of the judiciary, where lawyers submit their interest in being as- sessed by a subcommittee of the Commission for the Administration of Justice, according to set criteria. The results are then presented to the minister for justice, for the minister to make his own con- sideration as to which suitable candidate is ap- pointed judge or magistrate. Abela was this year turned down in his nomina- tion to become Malta's member in the European Court of Auditors, after MEPs from the Budget- ary Control Committee voted 17-9 against the nomination. His resignation as PL deputy leader paved the way for Konrad Mizzi's election to the post, with the latter resigning the deputy leader- ship soon after, in the wake of the Panama Papers scandal. Abela's 30-minute hearing in Brussels had been stunted by his lack of experience in top-level gov- ernment posts, as well as being overshadowed by questions focusing on his political life both before and after the 2013 election. Not so his interview before the Commission for the Administration of Justice's subcommittee – which includes the Chief Justice, the Attorney General, the Auditor General and the Ombuds- man, as well as the president of the Chamber of Advocates. According to a source privy to the talks, "he was found to be well capable of fulfilling the role of a judge." Abela was indeed denied a suitable 'exit' from his political life when he withdrew his candida- ture for the Auditors' Court after being turned down by MEPs. It is now only a matter of time be- fore he is seen donning a judge's cape under this Labour administration. Abela was famously purged by the Labour Party in 1989 when, as president of the same party, he joined forces with Labour whip Wenzu Mintoff, to denounce criminal elements inside Labour. The pair joined Alternattiva Demokratika, the Green Party, before returning to the Labour fold. Today Mintoff is a judge. Former PL deputy leader applies to judiciary watchdog maltatoday, SUNDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2016 News my ambition as Chef Patron Fund my business. Choose the freshest ingredients. Wow my customers. BANIF BUSINESS ACCELERATE MY TRUSTED PARTNER IN BUSINESS BANKING The SME Transactions benefit from support from the European Union pursuant to the SME Initiative, with funding by the European Union under the ERDF and Horizon 2020 and by the European Investment Fund and the European Investment Bank. SME Initiative 2014-2020 "Stimulating private sector investment for economic growth" Financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund Terms and conditions apply. Loans are subject to the Bank's lending criteria. The Bank reserves the right to withdraw the product from the market at its own discretion. Banif Bank (Malta) plc is a credit institution licensed to undertake the business of banking by the MFSA in terms of the Banking Act 1994. Registered in Malta C41030 - 203, Level 2, Rue D' Argens, Gzira, GZR 1368. Banif Business Accelerate offers me the possibility of financing my business with minimal security and advantageous terms. Talk to us today. Toni Abela set for judge's appointment apologised for comments which he said "could have offended the sentiments of some." Earlier this year, Azzopardi was at the centre of controversy again after clashing with a Val- letta parish priest, during cel- ebrations marking the feast of St Augustine, when a passing brass band disturbed a play produced by his theatre company Staġun Teatru Malti. Witnesses claimed the direc- tor used a homophobic slur in the priest's regard. Azzopardi denied using foul language or acting aggressively towards the priest and the band. Even former theatre workers suffered the brunt of his irasci- bility. Director Sean Buhagiar quit the direction of Stagun Te- atru Malti's play Habbilni Ha Nirbah after heated arguments with Azzopardi, the executive producer. Set designer Adrian Mamo also quit the production after Azzopardi flared up, ditch- ing the set before it was complet- ed. Sean Buhagiar later resigned from the post of V18's deputy artistic director. jbalzan@mediatoday.com.mt Azzopardi said the figure was incorrect, however in an email sent to MaltaToday he later said: "I understand that the ministry has adequately answered these questions. I have nothing else to add."