The PN opposition voted against the government’s nomination of former Labour MP Maria Camilleri as non-resident ambassador to Malaysia, arguing that she is clearly not fit to represent Malta in a diplomatic role.
During a heated hearing before parliament’s Public Appointments Committee, PN MP Adrian Delia confronted Camilleri over her almost daily diatribes on social media, which include politically charged comments targeting members of the opposition and critics of the government.
Delia presented several recent posts written by Camilleri, including comments in which she suggested that government critics should commit suicide and others in which she used derogatory language against opposition MPs.
Asked to explain these posts and whether such aggressive language was compatible with the role of representing the country abroad, Camilleri was unable to provide a direct reply. She insisted that she did not remember who the comments were directed at, even though the posts presented by Delia were written only a few days earlier.
Some of Maria Camilleri’s recent posts on social media, and (left) together with Dom Mintoff in her heydays
At the same time, during her presentation to the committee, Camilleri was able to clearly recall her limited experience in diplomacy, referring to a visit to China more than 40 years ago when she accompanied former President of Malta Agatha Barbara on an official trip.
When asked whether she regretted her derogatory comments, Camilleri maintained that she wrote what she wrote out of love for Malta and said she would “not permit anyone harming our island”.
Sixth government post for Labour propagandist
Camilleri, 73, served for a decade in parliament as a Labour backbencher and is mostly known for her close relationship with former Labour leader Dom Mintoff.
After retiring as headmistress of Malta’s first school for Muslim students, she was appointed to several government boards, earning separate remuneration that supplemented her pensions, including that of a former MP.
Camilleri told the committee that, in addition to the proposed ambassadorial post, she currently sits on the National Social and Development Fund board, serves as a director of Arms Ltd, represents the Maltese government on a body linking the European Commission and the Arab League, acts as an adviser on discipline in schools and is also a member of a public service recruitment selection board.
Despite the opposition’s objections, government MPs on the parliamentary committee voted in favour of Camilleri’s nomination.
