Why does Delia cling on? - Kevin Cassar

Desperation. Dishonesty. Delusion. Denial. Delia.

Desperation: The man has no money. By his own declaration, Adrian Delia has no savings at all in local or foreign banks. Since his election to the leadership his bank balance is zero.

In addition, he faces €9,000 payments per month, mostly to cover repayments (€3,933 HSBC; €1,413 BNF; €835 BOV) for home and personal loans in excess of €700,000 and bank and credit card balances exceeding €104,000, spousal maintenance of €2,700, lease of luxury car of €629 and children’s school fees.

His only declared income is as opposition leader earning about €2,700 per month. In addition, Mġarr Developments Ltd, a property venture bought from Yorgen Fenech’s Tumas Group and in which Delia is involved, still owes millions. Losing his post of opposition leader would literally leave him without a roof on his head and without a couch to sleep on.

Deputy leader Robert Arrigo tried to defend Delia by stating that “he probably had 40 offers for free accommodation but he refused”.

The leader’s desperate financial situation not only exposes him to the ridicule and humiliation of having to abuse his own position as party leader by sleeping at the party...