Updated with Repubblika statement
Controversial former minister Chris Cardona has returned to the government fold as a paid policy consultant within the education ministry.
Cardona was hired in February on a position-of-trust basis in the ministry’s parliamentary secretariat for youth, research and innovation, which is headed by Keith Tanti Azzopardi.
His contract, obtained by Times of Malta via a freedom of information request, shows that Cardona is expected to work a minimum of 10 hours a week, with a focus on youth policy.
Apart from a pro-rata salary worth around €11,000 annually, Cardona’s contract also states he is to receive a €20,000 expertise allowance, €4,320 in car and expense allowances and a further €1,600 communication allowance.
According to his contract, his duties include research and analysis of political, social and economic trends to anticipate “political shifts”, speech writing and ensuring compliance with regulations.
Besides a pro-rata salary worth around €11,000 annually, Cardona’s financial perks include a €20,000 ‘expertise allowance’, €4,320 in car and expense allowances and a further €1,600 ‘communication allowance’.Cardona was left out of the cabinet by Prime Minister Robert Abela in 2020 and pressured into resigning as Labour’s deputy leader that same year after being named in court in connection with journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder. The claims linking Cardona to the murder have never been proven, and the ex-minister has not faced prosecution.
Cardona’s apparent reintegration back into the Labour Party began last year, when he was invited to attend the party’s extraordinary general conference in September 2024.
His duties include research and analysis of political, social and economic trends to anticipate “political shifts”, speech writing and ensuring compliance with regulations
Speaking to Times of Malta, Cardona said his advisory role focuses on guiding strategies and investments in sectors that are central to Malta’s and Europe’s future competitiveness.
“These include health and well-being, sustainable resource use in response to climate change, smart manufacturing, maritime technology, aerospace, and future digital technologies”.
Cardona said a key part of his work is to support research and innovation, ensuring that scientific progress and technological breakthroughs are translated into real economic opportunities.
“My contribution is to help align policy, private investment, and innovation in order for these sectors not only to generate economic growth, but also to create quality jobs, attract international partnerships, and position Malta as a hub of excellence.
“I draw on my experience in government to bridge the gap between policy-making, business realities, research, and technological change, with a particular focus on sustainability and long-term resilience,” Cardona said.
A step back by the prime minister – Repubblika
In a reaction, rule of law NGO Repubblika condemned Cardona’s appointment and asked what credentials he holds in the education sector.
“It is worrying that a person who is the subject of so many suspect associations is appointed to a ministry tasked with forming young people’s minds and their future,” the NGO said.
Furthermore, through Cardona’s return, the prime minister was taking another step back from the personnel changes he made upon his appointment. This was, instead, a step towards the reintegration of people implicated in some of the worst scandals the country had ever seen, it added.