Waterpolo coach, PM’s personal friend, to be appointed ambassador

The government is set to appoint Karl Izzo, Malta’s national waterpolo coach and a personal friend of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, as the island’s ambassador to Montenegro. Mr Izzo is not known to have any experience in diplomacy or political affairs and no academic background. He is a former waterpolo player who, together with his wife Diane, owns the fashion retail group Dizz. He is expected to be appointed a non-resident ambassador following approval by Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee, which scrutinises government nominations to important posts and institutions. The committee, on which government MPs have a majority, is chaired by former Minister Edward Zammit Lewis, another close friend of Mr and Mrs Izzo and a lawyer to their businesses. This raises the question of whether Dr Zammit Lewis should withdraw from the committee when the vote on Mr Izzo is taken. The Izzo family have often travelled abroad on vacation with the Muscat and Zammit Lewis families. The last holiday they took together was only a few days ago.  It is not known if Mr Izzo has any connection with Montenegro other than through waterpolo. Montenegro is considered one of the strongest national...