Embattled Nationalist Party leader Adrian Delia on Monday failed to call a meeting of his parliamentary group amid speculation that he is fearing a showdown with rebel Opposition MPs calling for his resignation.
As the House of Representatives on Monday reconvened following a long Christmas recess, PN MPs were left completely in the dark, receiving instructions only through mobile messages on who was to take part in debates during the plenary session.
Faced with the crucial question on why he was shying away from calling his MPs to a group meeting, Dr Delia told journalist Sylvana Debono on RTK that he was not informed on when a meeting of his parliamentary group was to take place.
This despite that it is up to Dr Delia, as party and Opposition leader, to call a meeting of his group to discuss any pending issues connected to his party’s representation in Parliament. Dr Delia avoided giving a direct answer and instead said he did not know when the next meeting will be held.
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“I don’t have a date for the meeting. I don’t know if it will be this week as I am not informed,” he insisted.
“There is absolutely no problem for the parliamentary group to meet and I will not hesitate calling a meeting."
Under normal circumstances, the PN’s parliamentary group is reconvened to discuss various ongoing issues before the resumption of Parliament after long recesses.
Amid increasing speculation that the majority of MPs have privately expressed their concern over the ongoing state of the PN, related to Dr Delia and his leadership, and are ready to force his resignation as Opposition leader, the group was not called for a meeting.
Watch: ‘I will not resign” – Delia rejects claims he’s pulling PN down
For the President of Malta to ask the Opposition to nominate a new leader, the majority of PN MPs have to sign a declaration of no confidence in Dr Delia.
So far, only the two Opposition MPs from the Democratic Party, Godfrey and Marlene Farrugia, have publicly said that Dr Delia must go.
Dr Delia has insisted that none of the so-called rebel MPs have told him that he should resign.
Dr Delia also avoided explaining why he was heard on a recording doing the rounds on social media, describing PN secretary general Clyde Puli in “colourful” language. He insisted that he would not comment before hearing the full recording of what he allegedly said.
Instead, he showered praise on Mr Puli, describing him as one of the officials working hardest for the party.
Read: Attacks against me are against the PN - Delia
He did not reply when asked whether he was denying referring to Mr Puli in a disrespectful manner.
Dr Delia also categorically denied that he had ever touched drugs in his life.