Vote Adrian, get Joseph - Kevin Cassar

On November 27, 2009, a young opposition leader was due to meet King Juan Carlos. Joseph Muscat arrived late. Muscat had already kept his Majesty waiting the night before, arriving late for the state banquet.

In May 2010, a flight to Dubai was delayed for over an hour. Muscat turned up late again. MP George Vella and a planeload of passengers were kept waiting.

In the run-up to the European Parliament election, Muscat was 45 minutes late for a debate with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi.

Fast forward to October 2017. The president of the republic and other dignitaries were kept waiting for over one hour for the Leader of the Opposition Adrian Delia to turn up for his own swearing-in ceremony. Twenty hours later, Delia tweeted a half-hearted apology – “I apologise for taking longer than expected to arrive”.

In both, the tardiness belies a lack of self-discipline and organisation. It also reflects a disdainful disrespect for others, including heads of state.

This is the least significant of the ominous traits both men share.

When Muscat came to power, he rented his personal car to the state, pocketing a few thousand euros. Faced with the overwhelming responsibility of running the...