Reshuffle blown out of proportion – Cassar

Former health minister Joe Cassar has dismissed the suggestion that criticism of his track record had a bearing on Simon Busuttil’s decision to remove him as Opposition spokesman for health. On Saturday, PN leader Dr Busuttil announced a host of changes to the shadow cabinet barely three months after assuming control of the party. Claudio Grech, whose background is mainly in IT and management, was named the new shadow minister for health. He was previously covering planning and simplification of administrative processes. Dr Cassar was named shadow minister for education, while newly elected MP Antoine Borg was tasked to shadow the EU Presidency 2017 and EU funds portfolio. Dr Busuttil called the changes necessary following Mr Borg’s victory in last week’s casual election to fill the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and the election of Chris Said as PN general secretary in June. Dr Said, who was formerly spokesman on solidarity and the family, has been left free to focus exclusively on his party role. Still, the reshuffle raised some eyebrows. The Labour Party said Dr Busuttil “was trying to escape the disaster his party left behind in the health...