APS Bank’s failed attempt to acquire HSBC Malta has ignited political and ecclesiastical controversy, following revelations that Finance Minister Clyde Caruana personally blocked the deal. This move stands in stark contrast to Prime Minister Robert Abela’s earlier assurances to APS Bank that the government would not obstruct the acquisition. The fallout from the failed bid has raised questions about internal government cohesion, oversight within Church-affiliated financial institutions, and the future of competition in Malta’s tightly controlled banking sector....

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