You have insisted that you have never held any personal offshore or onshore accounts outside of Malta. Journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has since published documents showing that  around £1 million was transferred into an account, which is under your name, with Barclays International in Jersey over the course of 'three or four years', at the rate of £20,000 a month - there is also an HSBC document showing £20,000. Can you please explain?

I have not seen the original document, but I can say that any documents that have been published or that could be published have nothing to do with me personally. The only possibility, and recollection that I might have, is that it may involve a past client.

Looking at what has been published, do you recognise the document?

I am not here to discuss clients' business; I am here to discuss my business and my interests. I accept that I am open to scrutiny, and I reiterate that I never had any monies abroad, or any accounts where my money was held for any commissions or transfers.

If you go through the documents, the letter clearly indicates that this was a client transaction. If there are any doubts, I am happy to clear them up. You are free to scrutinize anything that has to do with me but not client matters.

Are the documents authentic?

I cannot say. I have to see the documents in person; there is no signature of mine anywhere. There is a bank number which I do not recognise. I have never received, or been in receipt of documentation to show me this.

We are determined to establish the truth. The easiest thing would be for Daphne to bring the original documents to the table so we can go through them, in the presence of third parties, and ascertain my exact role in the claims.

As matters stand, confusion is being created is order to cast doubt.

Even though you may have been acting for a client, you still knew about it, why did you not say this during your interviews with MaltaToday and Xtra?

In the interview, I also said that I have a fiduciary company, and that I am registered as a fiduciary person with the MMFSA, but I was answering questions on my personal issues, not questions concerning clients.

Numerous clients of mine hold companies in which I am a director; I could also own one share. This does not mean that I am partnered in business, as was claimed, but, rather, that I would have rendered a service. It is completely misleading, it is unfair, and it is untrue.

The impression that is being given is that I am dealing with prostitution, that I am involved in prostitution. That I am the ringleader in some sort of prostitution gang or circle. It is shameful, it is preposterous, and it is absolutely not the truth.

But would you be aware from where the source of the money is coming?

When you are acting as director you have obligations at law, and you have to respect those obligations. I cannot recall the document, because the names were removed when it was published. I am not the one breaking the law, someone else is.

So you do?

I have been acting as a lawyer for 23 years plus and I do this all the time with my clients.

Have you ever had a client who made his or her money from prostitution?

I cannot know what clients do; I can only know where I am involved. I was never ever involved in anything remotely linked to prostitution, to money from prostitution. If there is a client that does something illegal, it does not mean that the lawyer is doing something illegal.

 

The question should not be necessarily legal, but ethically and morally, shouldn't you be consistently aware of what your clients are doing?

You are making the presumption that at a certain point in time I knew about something and that I did not do my duty at law. Absolutely not; this is not the case, and that seems to be the allegation being put forward.

That is a preposterous idea, and that's what I cannot accept. This is why I need to see these documents, and it's being said that there are more documents. It is looking more like an entrapment strategy than a search for the truth.

You implied that there is someone behind her articles, who is it?

I would like to know.

Do you believe it could be any one of the four contenders?

I do not base anything on speculation, unlike others; if there are facts, I base my decision on facts.

What I definitely know is that up to now none of the candidates have condemned this evident attack on my integrity days before the election, which is clearly aimed at keeping me out from a position.

(Frank Portelli later announced his support for Delia during the PN Leaders Debate)

But how can you be certain that this is generated spin?

It's very clear. If that was not the idea, then why wouldn't the journalist sit down at a table with me; I have even invited her to do so. I said that I am very happy to discuss these issues, with journalists and other people present, and see where the truth lies.

My truth, the real truth is that this was used to derail anything else I wanted to say. The scope of what is happening is that the real message that I am putting forward which involves proposals, ideas, and a vision, is being completely obscured.

You claimed that Caruana Galizia knows the truth and yet gives the wrong impression. Are you saying that she is turning the facts, that she is lying and not saying the truth?

It seems to me that the articles are being published stylistically and premeditatedly, in order to raise suspicions and create speculation. If this was not the case, she would sit down and discuss it with me.

 If so, was the same applicable to her allegations against the Prime Minister and his wife on Egrant?

That is not for me to determine, but stylistically there is a pattern.

As a matter of fact, I never saw the documents myself. The story is not necessarily about the Egrant allegations itself but the people who had the authority to investigate, such as the Police and the Attorney General's Office, and failed to do so. We cannot make such claims on basis of belief, but sadly it seems that the way some articles are written are based on perception.

You have said that there were a number of false allegations against you, will you be taking legal action on all of them?

I did not plan conducting my campaign surrounded by legal action. I wanted to base it on proposals, ideas, and plans to move the party and the country forward. However, I will defend my name with allegations that are serious.

When there were allegations that I went to dinner with somebody from the Opposition, I felt that it did not merit anything, but it was an outright lie, a complete lie.

Related to this, was the story concerning my car and the police. The car was in a private car park in the Handaq industrial estate, as I was visiting clients. The police arrived after an anonymous report. I immediately volunteered without them having a warrant, and they found absolutely nothing. However, the article painted it that I was there all alone at night, when it was actually about 7pm.

 It should be evident that if you do not have the whole story, and you are looking for a story, and you see that there is not a story at all, it is because there was actually absolutely nothing. The story does not even have any merit from a journalistic perspective. I challenge any journalist in the country to agree that a search that found absolutely nothing, and which was based on an anonymous report, is newsworthy.

Why were you hesitant to publish a declaration of assets?

I was not hesitant. When I contested this race, I read the regulations and there were no requirements that you had to publish your declaration of assets during a leadership campaign. 

Requirements aside, do you not feel that as a potential Nationalist Party leader it is your duty to publish such assets to maintain absolute transparency?

It was never done before - not by Simon Busuttil, not by Lawrence Gonzi, not by Eddie Fenech Adami, and not by Joseph Muscat - and was never raised an issue before I came along. In fact, I even suggested publically that the party should submit the candidates to enhanced due diligence.

Chris Said decided to do it, which is no big deal because he is required to do so as a current Member of Parliament and a former minister. When Daphne suggested it should be done, Alex Perici Calascione flew to do it. I do not conduct my life according to what a journalist says.

I had every intention of doing it, and I will publish the declaration, which will be verified by auditors, before the election.

So did you succumb to public pressure?

No, I did not. I listened to what the party councillors said, who were asking the questions. I felt obliged to put their doubts to rest. I have even already declared them publically.

When is it going to be published?

Definitely before the 2^nd. I can even tell you what will be in it. My residence, rooms in the countryside, the nine per cent stake in Mgarr Developments, 14 per cent in Caranbay Wines, and that's basically it. We are updating searches and public registry in order to present the documents in full, so certainly nobody will complain.

Will it include a list of your directorships?

I will include a list of where I am a director of companies in which I own shareholdings, not where I provide services to clients.

Shouldn't we be made aware of any possible conflicts of interest, as was the case with PN Deputy Leader Mario de Marco and db?

I said that if I was elected, I would divest myself of everything; I do not think it fair to expose all the clients.

What is your vision for this country?

That politics is no longer conducted in this manner. It was not my number one priority but now it seems it has to become an a priori statement when politics becomes a dirty game of trying to prejudice people who have never been in politics to actually come forward and participate in public life.

I think it is very evident that the message out there is that if you have always been in politics you can remain, but if you are new to politics, if you are prepared to give up your life and privacy, you are not welcome in politics.

Secondly, politics is based on truth and honesty, which was the hallmark of the previous campaign. We will be able to create politics based on individuals, who will be the centre of our decisions. We need to move away from convenience-based politics and re-establish that we are living in a normal lawful country. Currently, we have institutions that are established in the Constitution that fail to their duty at law.

We also need to properly examine our country's direction. Is it a country that wants to continue receiving a record number of tourists who destroy the very footprint they have come to visit? Or should we re-assess and focus on higher quality tourism?  Are we moving towards a Dubai-like property based society? Or should we focus on adding value and knowledge to commercial sectors? We all know it was the PN who created all the innovative sectors that have created economic growth, the PL has just picked the fruits of these endeavours.

We need to create new areas of opportunity which would result in the real creation of wealth; not through the sale of government assets and passports.

Thirdly, while our country is doing well economically, and could do even better under the leadership of the Nationalist Party, we also need to create a balance with those less fortunate and more vulnerable to ensure that everyone is taken care of.

I do not subscribe to the handout system of the current government, particularly when it is used as a tool to win general elections. We need to properly alleviate poverty and improve the standard of living.

Could you give us any concrete examples of proposals you would implement?

I have launched a number of packages, concerning the self employed, poverty, justice and the courts, and soon I will release one concerning education. I believe that we need to re-examine the current system, which uses standard curriculum and uses a 'one-size-fits-all' category, rather than promote a system which discovers our children's talents. This, coupled with the great efforts of our teachers and teaching staff, will create a much better country in 20 years' time.

 

Before the election, the PN claimed that it was stronger than ever, however, following the result, it appears to be more fractured than ever, with the campaign being a particularly vicious. If you were to win, how do you plan to reunify the party? Do you have fears that there could be a split?

I am an optimist, so I view this vicious fight as an eagerness to offer something for the PN, following four massive electoral defeats.

My experience over the last eight weeks has shown me that there is discontent and anger with the result. I believe this can be forged into determination, which will slowly evolve into conviction. We need to go back to politics for the people, and actually propose a better alternative for our country.

With regard to Mgarr Developments, you have consistently said that the allegations are incorrect; can you please explain how this is?

Well, the initial loan was, I believe, of around €12 million, and it is currently at €7.2 million. The project has built 38 units, of which 23 have already been sold. There are another three units on a promise of sale, which means that the debt is projected to be reduced to €5.2 million. The 12 units left, which are all relatively large, will not only cover the debt, but also will most likely yield a profit.

Over-development is reaching a boiling point to the detriment of the environment and the infrastructure. What plans do you have to tackle the issue?

We need a serious 50-year plan for Malta. Over the years both political parties have succumbed to political convenience, and created master plans, rationalisations, regularisations, which always suited a few individuals.

I have to make it clear that the PN should not be against developers, but we need a structured plan in order to start building things that the country actually needs, and not according to the needs of a developer.

At the moment, PL looks at development to see what they can give an individual for votes. 

Do you think that the Planning Authority is once again in urgent need of reform?

Absolutely. The PA, which is a vital organisation, has turned into a monster, which has become more and more bureaucratic to the everyday person yet more convenient for the bigger players. When it concerns an extra window, families are made to wait for an extremely long time and pay fees, but when it concerns the environment it is a different story. We need to increase our forested areas, have cleaner air, and increase public space.

We are in desperate need for proper planners, something which the country seems to have forgotten.

In the weeks since you announced your candidature, you have been involved in controversial stories, such as Mgarr Developments, the Birkirkara FC goalkeeper, and other allegations.  Is this a sign of things to come should you become PN Leader?

These are a lot of stories I am proud of. If politics can be seen through the perspective of business, I can tackle loans, pay them, and make a profit, which hopefully shows I can sort out the PN's financial situation. With regard to the Birkirkara story, it shows that I am ready to fight corruption tooth and nail. If you ask anyone in the world of football, they will tell you that I am associated with the fight against corruption.

People, instead, dress up stories to depict an incorrect picture.

Frank Portelli said he would resign if he does not half the gap between the parties by the MEP elections. Do you think it is a realistic target? Would you commit to doing the same?

I think it is realistic to aim for better than that. However, I will not resign after my first test - the real test is the general election.

He also said that whoever wins the contest will inherit a party full of problems, do you agree?

Yes, but it is also true there is a great opportunity for massive rewards if we work together and give the party back to the people.

 

Marlene Farrugia said that she does not think there is one good PN leadership candidate. Should you get elected, do you think you will be able to work together?

Yes, I am very keen to prove wrong anybody who thinks I am not good enough. I look forward to working with her and Godfrey Farrugia, and also with the government and Labour Party when it is required. At the end of the day, we are working for one country.

It appears that there are two very separate agendas in the PN, with one side pushing for a more progressive path, while the other wants to preserve traditional values. Can the two sides co-exist?

I believe that diversity unites us rather than divides us. The PN is enriched with diversity in intellectual thought, beliefs, and ideologies. The beautiful thing about the PN is that we come from different walks of life, and I feel we have a massive opportunity to have a new flourishing PN.

The public only knows you through the facade of the media. Could you describe Adrian Delia in a few words?

I love my country, my family, my party. I am somebody who faces every challenge with passion, who believes in convincing minds and winning over hearts, who thinks that politics is for the people. I want to allow the public's dreams and aspirations to come to the fore and materialise.

Interview was conducted on Thursday, 24 August