Justyne Caruana

She was first elected to Parliament in 2003 and successively in 2008, 2013 and 2017, always from her native Gozo constituency.  She served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing from 2014 to 2017. In Opposition she was Spokesperson for Youth, Culture, Sports, Family, Children and Persons with Disability. Caruana was regional representative of the UK, British Isles and Mediterranean Region on the Steering Committee of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians and currently represents Malta on its Regional British Isles and Mediterranean Steering Committee. In 2016, Caruana was nominated as Malta's ambassador in the Women in Parliaments Global Forum. She is a member of the Social Affairs Committee.

A Lawyer by profession, Caruana specialized in family law and canonical and civil litigation.

On the December 7, 2021 a 89 page ethics report compiled by the Standards Commissioner was released to the general public.{{Cite web|url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/justyne-caruana-daniel-bogdanovic-report/|title=READ IN FULL: Report into Justyne Caruana's €15,000 Direct Order to Daniel Bogdanovic|date=14 December 2021}} It found that Caruana released a €15,000 contract to her friend Daniel Bogdanović to draft a report on ways to improve the National Sport School. The report also found that there was a "concentrated effort to hide Bogdanović's incompetence"{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/read-the-full-report-into-caruanas-15000-contract-for-bogdanovic.921322|title = Read: The full report into Caruana's €15,000 contract for Bogdanovic}} and the work delivered was actually done by Paul Debattista, one of Caruana's consultants.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/criminal-probe-suggested-into-justyne-caruanas-abuse-of-power.920944|title = Lies and abuse of power: Damning report into Caruana's deal for Bogdanovic}} The Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela stopped the Bogdanović contract as soon as he became aware of it.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/watch-abela-sits-on-the-fence-in-justyne-caruana-case.921376|title=Watch: Abela sits on the fence in Justyne Caruana case}}

It was alleged that Caruana shared a romantic relationship with Bogdanović. Caruana did not reply to questions by media.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/education-minister-justyne-caruana-silent-on-job-for-friend-scandal.921913|title = Education Minister Justyne Caruana silent on job-for-friend scandal}}

Caruana resigned from her position as Minister for Education on December 22, 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2021-12-22/local-news/Justyne-Caruana-resigns-as-Education-Minister-6736239285|title = UPDATED: Justyne Caruana resigns as Education Minister, will not contest general election - the Malta Independent}}{{Cite web|url=https://lovinmalta.com/news/breaking-justyne-caruana-resigns-as-education-minister/|title = BREAKING: Justyne Caruana Resigns as Education Minister|date = 22 December 2021}} She was succeeded by Clifton Grima.{{Cite web |last=Balzan |first=Jurgen |date=2021-12-27 |title=Clifton Grima appointed as education minister |url=https://newsbook.com.mt/en/clifton-grima-appointed-as-education-minister/ |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=Newsbook |language=en-US}}

Within the second week following resignation, Caruana was employed full-time in the Victims Support Agency at the Ministry of Home Affairs on a salary of €40,000, alongside a termination-benefit payment of €30,000, by the disgraced former prime minister Joseph Muscat.{{Cite web|url=https://theshiftnews.com/2021/08/10/joseph-muscats-e120000-golden-handshake-was-three-times-average-terminal-benefits/|title = Joseph Muscat’s €120,000 golden handshake was THREE times average terminal benefits}} The Maltese Government and Caruana refused to comment on how she was visibly seen continuing her private law practise employment whilst simultaneously working full-time at the Ministry of Home Affairs.{{Cite web|url=https://theshiftnews.com/2022/05/30/justyne-caruana-is-back-on-the-public-payroll/|title = Justyne Caruana is back on the public payroll}} Additionally, as of July 2024, Caruana was once again brought into the Government's payroll, acting as an advisor on tax and customs to the government whilst receiving a salary of €78,000. As stated by the Maltese Nationalist Party; "It’s unclear where she works, what she does, or whether she even attends work anywhere. It’s also unknown on what criteria she was selected over others".{{Cite web|url=https://timesofmalta.com/article/exminister-justyne-caruana-paid-78000-30-hours-week-job.1103004|title = Ex-minister Justyne Caruana paid €78,000 for 30 hours a week job}}

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Category:Living people

Category:Labour Party (Malta) politicians

Category:Government ministers of Malta

Category:21st-century Maltese women politicians

Category:21st-century Maltese politicians

Category:Women government ministers of Malta

Category:Members of the House of Representatives of Malta

Category:People from Gozo

Category:Academic staff of the University of Malta

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)