Abela under pressure as cabinet talks slow amid demands from Fearne and Cutajar

Prime Minister Robert Abela is facing mounting pressure from within the Labour Party as he struggles to finalise his new cabinet, with competing demands from senior figures threatening to complicate what was expected to be a straightforward post-election reshuffle.

Sources close to the Prime Minister told The Shift that, despite Labour’s electoral victory, Abela has yet to make key decisions on the composition of his government. Internal lobbying by MPs seeking ministerial appointments, coupled with factional pressures inside the party, is slowing down the process.

Among the most prominent voices pressing for a place at the cabinet table are former Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne and former parliamentary secretary Rosianne Cutajar.

According to sources, Fearne is insisting that Abela honour an alleged pre-election commitment to return him to cabinet. The former deputy prime minister is understood to be seeking either the health portfolio, currently held by the underperforming incumbent  Jo Etienne Abela, or another senior ministry.

Fearne resigned from the cabinet in May 2024 after being charged in connection with the controversial hospitals concession involving Vitals Global Healthcare and Steward Health Care. At the time, he argued that it was untenable for a minister facing serious criminal charges to remain in office.

His resignation came during Labour’s European election campaign and was widely viewed as politically damaging for Abela, whose party saw its majority significantly reduced.

In July 2024, a court ruled that sufficient evidence existed for Fearne to stand trial on charges including fraud and misappropriation. He has consistently denied wrongdoing, insisting that he was sidelined from key negotiations related to the hospitals concession and had no involvement in any criminal activity.

Nevertheless, sources said Abela remains reluctant to reinstate Fearne to a senior government position, pointing to the former minister’s own argument that cabinet members should not continue serving while under indictment.

Fearne, however, is reportedly reminding supporters that he was promised a ministerial role should Labour win another mandate and is actively pressing the prime minister to keep that commitment.

Party insiders believe Abela may eventually give in to the pressure.

At the same time, Rosianne Cutajar is also seeking a return to Labour’s inner circle after being sidelined during the previous legislature.

Cutajar, who enjoys support from factions aligned with disgraced former prime minister Joseph Muscat, is understood to be insisting on a place in cabinet.

Her political career has been dogged by controversy.

She was found by the Commissioner for Standards in Public Life to have breached ethics rules in connection with a property deal involving Yorgen Fenech, the businessman accused of complicity in the assassination of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. She was also criticised over undeclared income linked to the transaction.

Despite the findings and her subsequent removal from government, Cutajar was later readmitted to Labour’s parliamentary ranks and has since rebuilt support within sections of the party.

The pressure from Fearne and Cutajar comes as Abela weighs wider changes to his administration.

Sources said the prime minister is considering whether to drop a number of long-serving ministers whose performance during the last legislature has been widely criticised. Among those whose future remains uncertain are Gozo Minister Anton Refalo and former minister Owen Bonnici.

However, Abela is facing resistance from advisers and party officials who fear that excluding senior figures could trigger fresh internal tensions at a time when Labour is seeking to project unity following the election.

Sources said that the challenge for Abela is balancing competing interests while avoiding the perception that he is both compromised by internal pressure and indecisive in his leadership.

His final decision is expected to be announced in the coming hours.