A particular clause in the PN's statute may cause issues if anti-Adrian Delia PN MPs move to remove him as Leader of the Nationalist Party, however an MP speaking on the condition of anonymity argues that it will not.
The majority of PN MPs had informed the President of Malta that they no longer have confidence in the Opposition Leader, and have proposed Therese Comodini Cachia to replace him.
Delia has stuck to his guns and insisted he will not step down, citing the fact that he was twice confirmed by the party's tesserati (paid-up members).
Recently, this newsroom was informed that the anti-Delia group of MPs believe the embattled PN Leader would be ousted in a no-confidence vote at the party's General Council. Speaking to The Malta Independent on condition of anonymity, a number of dissenting MPs said the group does not wish to split the Nationalist Party, "because that is what the Labour Party wants." They stressed that what they want is to strengthen the party, and give it a fighting chance in the next election. MPs had previously told this newsroom that removing Delia as Opposition Leader only will not help the party emerge from its pitiful state. "Obviously, he has to be removed from the role of party leader, too."
While the MPs are currently moving to remove Delia from Opposition Leader, the next step would likely be to move to remove Delia from the post of PN Leader. This however, could prove to be a bit of a hurdle given that they would need to call a no confidence vote within the party's General Council.
The statute states that once a motion of no confidence in a party leader is decided, the General Council cannot consider a similar motion before two years' pass from that decision.
Delia faced a motion of no confidence in July of 2019, just one year ago, where 67% of the Party Councillors voted in his favour. This means that two years have not passed.
An MP speaking with this newsroom however, said that the party's General Council has the power to bypass the clause, and that if Delia would then lose a vote of confidence in the General Council it would mean he would no longer be leader.
Asked whether the tesserati would need to be involved in such a removal, the MP said no, but added the tesserati would be involved in the appointment of a new leader.
The MP stressed that first and foremost the MPs who are moving against Delia are still waiting for their first step to go through, the removal of Delia as Opposition Leader.