Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1159832
16 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 25 AUGUST 2019 INTERVIEW The investigation into your meeting with Yorgen Fenech concluded that you did nothing wrong. Do you think that will be enough to allay suspicions to the contrary? To set the matter straight: I was the one who suspended myself, and asked the party to investigate what happened. The party took four months to delve into the matter, and reached its conclusions. I have no issue with the party publish- ing the full report of its inves- tigation; but it chose to only issue a statement with the con- clusions. I don't feel I should say more than the party said in that statement… Sorry, but I'm asking you, not the Nationalist Party. My understanding is that the official purpose of that meeting was to rent out a hall for an event. Yorgen Fenech is the CEO of the Tumas Group; as such, it is not normal for him to get involved in such a minor matter. Were you surprised to see him there when you went in for that meeting? Yes, I was. In fact, I was ex- pecting to meet someone else. Let me explain: the intention was to organise a conference on knife-crime – the guest speaker was a retired Brit- ish lawyer, whom I happen to know; he is an expert on the subject, and often gives pub- lic talks. Unfortunately, how- ever, the conference never took place. I feel this is a pity, because I am sure we could have learnt something from the experience… but that's just an aside. At the time, the idea was to organise this conference in, or around, Paceville: which would have been ideal, because of the subject matter. Original- ly, we thought about holding the event in conjunction with the [St Julian's] local council. But then, the election was ap- proaching; and I thought about making it a bit bigger. So, I asked to meet someone [from the Tumas Group] to discuss the possibility of the Hilton of- fering us a conference room. What I didn't realise – in fact, I only found out on the day it- self – was that Yorgen Fenech is also the CEO of the Hilton… which I must admit was a sur- prise. Had anyone asked me who the Hilton CEO was, I would have guessed someone in the catering business. It nev- er occurred to me that it would be Yorgen Fenech himself… All the same: given that your party had turned its guns specifically on Yorgen Fenech… didn't it occur to you that approaching the Tumas Group, out of so many options, would appear suspicious? No, because the party hasn't got any issues with the Fenech Group. We regularly organ- ise events at the Dolmen, and other venues owned by the same company. Besides, when I considered organising the con- ference at Hilton, I was com- forted by the fact that the party had used the Hilton for the Net Awards event only a few months earlier. Because let's face it: the Fenech Group is not just Yorgen Fenech; there are other people and families in- volved… with whom the party has no issues whatsoever. The question, however, is whether the Tumas Group has any issue with the Nationalist Party. Why do you think Yorgen Fenech would have muscled his way into that meeting? What did he want from you? No, no, it wasn't like that at all. As a matter of fact, the meeting was very, very short. We barely had time for the cof- fee… Is that because you realised the awkwardness of the situation, and wanted to leave? No, it was because Yorgen of- fered us a conference room at the Dolmen [in Qawra]: which wasn't what we wanted. We wanted something in Paceville. Now: I could have ignored all the ensuing controversy… but I didn't… Could you really have ignored it, though? What many Nationalists saw was a 'secret' meeting between Adrian Delia's closest aide, and the owner of 17 Black. Isn't it fair to say that their suspicions were legitimate? What can I say? It was an un- fortunate incident. It was never my intention to meet Yorgen Fenech… Fair enough, but this 'unfortunate incident' may have further damaged the PN. A substantial chunk of PN voters still suspect collusion between the PN leadership, and the so-called 'Panama Gang'. Hasn't this episode only strengthened that perception? The investigating board had the privilege of looking at all the evidence; and it took four months to conduct its investi- gations with serenity. So, while I appreciate that some people out there may not agree with their conclusions… I did what was expected of me to do: I offered my suspension, and asked for the investigation… and that's what Adrian Delia expects of all of us: especially those close to him. So, I took a step back from the parlia- mentary group for almost five months: also because I didn't want to be a hindrance to the party during an election cam- paign. And if, God forbid, any- thing like this happens again, I will take the same course of ac- tion again… Meanwhile, the decision to absolve and reinstate you also seems to chime in with Delia's reconfirmation as party leader. Those Nationalists who wanted you out of the party, also tried (and failed) to topple Delia as leader. Can he really claim to be the leader of the PN? Or is he only the leader of that 67% faction that supported him against the other 33%? First of all, those 33% who did not vote for Adrian Delia's con- firmation, are still Nationalists. They still love their party. I have full respect for each and every one of them. And I'm sure that Adrian will open his arms, and his ears, to listen to their con- cerns. And he is already doing something about this: he has appointed Louis Galea, to lead a much-needed reform of the party. All the councillors are very much needed; they can still contribute, and they will find all the space they need. This is what is important: that the party creates space so that everyone feels comfortable to criticise. There should be space for everyone to discuss our dif- ferent views. Those 33% may still be Nationalists, but the same cannot be said for the thousands of former PN voters who turned their back on the party at the European elections. And it is voters, not councillors, who determine the outcome of any election. Doesn't this make the PN unelectable under Delia? This is a very good point you raise. What is a Nationalist? I come from an area, in the south, where many of the for- mer Nationalists who chose not to vote, did so for reasons that are different from other Suspended following a private meeting with Yorgen Fenech – the owner of 17 Black, a company implicated in the Panama Papers leak – Nationalist MP HERMANN SCHIAVONE was this week exonerated by an internal PN commission. But is this really the end of the matter? The PN needs a new Raphael Vassallo Raphael Vassallo rvassallo@mediatoday.com.mt PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES BIANCHI