Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1267088
2 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 8 JULY 2020 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Delia also announced that he had asked the police to investigate leaked WhatsApp messages that showed how he conversed with murder suspect Yorgen Fenech last year. The chats, which were published by The Sunday Times of Malta, sparked outrage among PN MPs, a majority of whom have insisted Delia's position is no longer tena- ble after he engaged with Fenech when it was known that he owned 17 Black. Outside party headquarters a small crowd of Delia sympathis- ers gathered to applaud MPs who support the leader. Tempers flared for a short while when a De- lia sympathiser called out the One News journalist and challenged her to cover the National Audit Office damning report on the Vi- tals deal. Meanwhile, in the afteroon, former prime minister Lawrence Gonzi denied claims he was asked to mediate the meeting. PN insiders had claimed that Delia had brought in Gonzi to mediate the parliamentary group meeting, in a bid by the embat- tled leader to stave off plans by a number of PN MPs to call for a no confidence vote. Gonzi did not confirm or deny whether he had met Delia, as the insiders claimed, but insisted he was not a mediator and that he would not be attending the meet- ing. Sources told MaltaToday that Delia would be given a chance to step down from his post as Na- tionalist Party leader and would face a vote of no confidence if he refused to do so. Two MPs who spoke to Malta- Today on condition of confiden- tiality, insisted that – contrary to what happened in previous par- liamentary group meetings – MPs were now intent on forcing Delia out. MPs already attended an un- official parliamentary group meeting at PN headquarters late on Sunday, but many were left unconvinced by Delia's defence in reaction to the WhatsApp ex- changes with Fenech. "We will see how Delia reacts and what he will do," one MP said. "But one way or another, action will be taken tonight." The MP said that there was al- ready a post-Delia plan agreed up- on and that it had the widespread support of a vast majority of the parliamentary group. "Everyone, inside the group and beyond, within the whole party, acknowledges that Delia's posi- tion – especially following the lat- est developments – is totally un- tenable. Everyone, that is, except Delia himself." The MP said that the group expected Delia himself to make the first overtures in tonight's meeting. "But if he remains stub- born even now, this time we are prepared to put our foot down," the MP said, when pressed as to whether anything would actually happen if Delia did not bow out gracefully. Delia resisted an attempt earlier this year by MPs, who wanted him out and party sources suggested he is unlikely to buckle under the pressure. The parliamentary group can only vote on Delia's role as leader of the opposition parliamentary group, not as party leader. A vote of no confidence in Delia would lead to him staying on as party leader but someone else oc- cupying the constitutional role of Opposition leader. The PN had been very critical of 17 Black's inclusion as a target client for the Panama companies set up by former minister Konrad Mizzi and Joseph Muscat's chief of staff, Keith Schembri. The compa- ny has been linked to alleged cor- ruption in major public contracts. In one of the exchanges, which were all initiated by Fenech, the Opposition leader entertained an invitation for dinner by replying that he would ask his aide, Pierre Portelli, to set it up. Only last week, Delia twice told journalists that he had no com- munication of relevance with Fenech. The situation could very much leave the PN in a quandary with Delia staying on as party leader but someone else occupying the constitutional role of Opposition leader. 'This time we are prepared to put our foot down' Supporters of Adrian Delia gathered outside the party headquarters from the early afternoon