PN MP Ivan Bartolo has pledged his loyalty to party leader Adrian Delia amid a growing rift within the nationalist camp.

Ten MPs have come out in favour of former party leader Simon Busuttil, who was asked by Adrian Delia to suspend himself after the publication of the Egrant inquiry conclusions on Sunday.

A number of other MPs have expressed support for Delia, while some others have not expressed themselves. Some MPs have offered to mediate between the two factions, while others have warned that the discussion should be held behind closed doors, within the party’s structures, and not on the social media.

Asked by The Malta Independent, Bartolo said “I am loyal to our leader Dr Delia.  Regarding Simon (Busuttil), I will tackle the issue in a different manner.” 

Meanwhile, the Mosta MP has taken exception to a poster (below), shared on Facebook, which placed him in the Busuttil ‘camp.’

Reacting, Bartolo said posters such as this one brought more division. He said he had not commented on Facebook so as not to fuel the fire and entertain the other side.

Our aim, he said, is to bring the different groups and factions together.

He said it was also not right to place those who had not spoken out, like Edwin Vassallo, into one group or another. (Vassallo was placed in the pro-Delia group on the poster).

Bartolo said Vassallo had not commented as he was going through a difficult time (his mother passed away recently).

“Personally I think the decision about Busuttil was rushed, but at the same time I am loyal to party leader Adrian Delia and to no one else. I would never be part of a vote of no confidence against my leader.”