Malta's Deputy Prime Minister Chris Fearne on Friday resigned after prosecutors filed fraud charges against him related to a deal that privatised state hospitals, Paralel.Az reports.

Fearne resigned from his positions as deputy prime minister and minister for reforms, and announced he was withdrawing his nomination for European Commissioner.

"I thank you for the opportunity to serve my country. It has been the greatest honor of my life," Fearne told Prime Minister Robert Abela in his letter of resignation, which he published.

However, in his reply to Fearne's resignation letter the prime minister asked him to reconsider his decision.