Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1210197
3 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS KURT SANSONE NATIONALIST Party MP Jason Azz- opardi has shared the names of the 17 members of the PN parliamentary group who want Adrian Delia to step down. Under the tagline, 17 Blue Heroes, Az- zopardi shared a post with mugshots of the MPs, including himself, who last week called on Delia to consider stepping down from leader. This is the first time that the names have been confirmed officially by the people in- volved in the rebellion. This confirms that Delia has lost the support of 15 MPs in parliament (the two MEPs cannot be counted), which makes his position as Opposition leader unten- able. The PN parliamentary group has 28 MPs. Another two MPs sit as independents – Marlene Farrugia and Godfrey Farrugia, who are very likely to support any move to remove Delia from Opposition leader. The development comes on the back of doubts sown by former PN secretary-gen- eral Clyde Puli last Sunday when in an interview on TVM's Insights, said he be- lieved there weren't 17 MPs who wanted Delia out. Prior to the names being released, the MPs had circulated an unsigned state- ment calling for Delia to step down. The MPs are: Claudette Buttigieg, Kevin Cutajar, Karl Gouder, Therese Comodini Cachia, Mario de Marco, Toni Bezzina, Marthese Portelli, Karol Aquilina, Rober- ta Metsola, Claudio Grech, Ryan Callus, Beppe Fenech Adami, Simon Busuttil, Chris Said, Stephen Spiteri, Jason Azzo- pardi and David Casa. Meanwhile, in comments to The Mal- ta Independent, Claudio Grech has de- scribed as "absolute fiction", rumours that he was willing to take over the party lead- ership. Delia faces the prospect of being re- moved from Opposition leader, which is the power that MPs have. However, to do so they would have to pass a vote of no confidence in Delia, showing that a ma- jority of them do not support him. Any such move would prompt the Pres- ident to act and appoint another Opposi- tion leader, who enjoys the support of the majority of Opposition MPs. Delia has resisted calls to step down, in- sisting that he was elected leader of the PN in a legitimate election and recon- firmed last summer. He has accused the rebel MPs of want- ing to dictate matters in the party and has challenged them to toe the line or be kicked out. 'Blue heroes' Names of PN's 17 rebels who want Delia out released NATIONALIST Party MP Ste- phen Spiteri has distanced himself from the 'Blue He- roes' tag that associated him with the party's rebellious faction. Spiteri said that he had voiced his concerns internally and these must have been misin- terpreted as being against party leader Adrian Delia. "I abide by the party's line, and whilst I ex- pressed my concerns, I do not want to be part of a group which did a coup d'état against the leader, that is not the way forward," Spiteri was quoted telling The Malta Independent yesterday. Spiteri's face was included in a collage of 15 MPs and two PN MEPs shared on Facebook by Jason Azzopardi under the tag line 17 Blue Heroes. Last week, in an unsigned statement, mem- bers of the parliamentary group had called for Delia's resignation. The statement said that Delia was told in no uncertain terms by 17 members of the parliamentary group to step down from role as leader given the party's in- ability to make inroads despite the political crisis that rocked government in December. But now, Spiteri's decision to distance him- self from the rebels is creating more confu- sion to an already tenuous situation within the PN. PN MP Stephen Spiteri wants no part in coup to oust Adrian Delia MATTHEW VELLA THE resignation letter of Na- tionalist Party deputy leader for party affairs Robert Arrigo was published in the party's organ In-Nazzjon yesterday. The letter accuses the PN's parliamentary group of having endangered the financial sus- tainability of the Nationalist Party, which is believed to be severely in debt. Arrigo had already submitted an informal resignation note to the parliamentary group, which was previously published in the press. But in his official letter to PN leader Adrian Delia, the hotel- ier and Sliema MP accuses the parliamentary group of having created obstacles in his bid to prop up the party financially. "I created different streams of revenue… notwithstanding the obstacles posed by the respec- tive parliamentary group." He also accused the MPs, now identified as a group of 15 and two MEPs, of destroying the party. "Collective responsibility should be shouldered in pro- portion, by everybody. To oust you, they destroyed a party. My concern is that nobody, ever, from these gurus, came out with a concrete plan for the PN." Arrigo said the PN's "hopeless financial inheritance", a muted reference to the Gonzi-Saliba years, was under control with a 10-year plan to make its media outlets post a breakeven. "Knowingly or unknowingly the parliamentary group, with its actions has destroyed this, including the responsibility of ensuring there are enough funds for the monthly payment of all our staff salaries. "I am sure that they too will assume this responsibility, as from the 1st April with the pro- posed crowdfunding by an MP, these talented persons will col- lect the needed €2 million per year." Arrigo also criticised Delia for his "non-action on situations", but said it was clear that he was not 'selling' what should be proposals, directions and clari- ty to the people. "The party could have made it. I am sure that now the par- liamentary group will have its news beginning." Rebels have destroyed PN to oust Delia, Arrigo says in resignation letter