Between 1981 and 1988 Vassallo was law reporter for The Times (Malta) covering a period of trials dealing with human rights violations.
Vassallo was one of the co-founders of Democratic Alternative (DA) in 1989 and unsuccessfully stood for all general elections since on the Party ticket.
[2] The appointment came as a surprise considering that Dalli and Vassallo both held very senior positions in rival Maltese parties belonging to different political families.
Dalli was not spared criticism when, early in his mandate, the European Commission gave the green light for the cultivation of the genetically modified potato Amflora.
Following Dalli's resignation, served under EU Commissioner Tonio Borg who implemented the full ban on the testing of animals in the cosmetics industry.