Delia’s isolation set to grow further

Opposition leader Adrian Delia has made the privatisation deal the government reached for the transfer of three hospitals his pet project, never failing to refer to it each time he speaks in public, be it during his weekly address at a PN club or on the party’s media.

It is a legitimate and justified battle, one which is he is also pursuing in the courts of law to force, in his words, the return of the three public hospitals to the nation. He is right on this one. There are too many questions surrounding how and why such an accord was reached, and too many others on why the government – the new one, under Robert Abela – has so far failed to look closer at what happened and take the decisions needed.

What stands out in all this, however, is that Delia is not finding much support from within his own ranks on the subject. He is the only member of the Opposition who is speaking on the matter and, powerful as the voice of the Opposition leader may be, unless it is supported by his own party and picked up by other organisations, the aim will not be achieved. Even interested parties like the

Medical Association of Malta and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses have remained a step back on a topic which affects the livelihoods of their members. They should be more vocal about the situation.

But Delia’s isolation is not only on this particular matter. It is perhaps more worrying for him – and for the country, given the need for a strong Opposition to keep the government in check – that the Nationalist Party continues to appear debilitated day after day.

Delia has already lost people who were close to him, including Clyde Puli who resigned from the post of secretary general, and Kristy Debono, who quit as president of the PN’s general council. Robert Arrigo will also soon leave his position as deputy leader for party affairs.

But it does not stop here. Elcom’s top official, Angelito Sciberras, has left too, and he has been replaced by Boris Xerri, a former treasurer who is well known for his anti-Delia stance, having been part of the group which favoured a vote of no confidence in the leader last year.

It does not stop here either. Two valuable elements of the Nationalist Opposition have resigned from Parliament over the past few days. Simon Busuttil, the former leader, was not among Delia’s greatest friends but his move to Brussels has drained the Opposition of more resources, considering his credibility as a the person and politician. The PN has also lost Marthese Portelli, who quit Parliament and left a void in place of her energetic input over the last seven years. Their departure weakens the PN in general because the contribution of both MPs was significant.

That Busuttil and Portelli will most likely be replaced in Parliament respectively by David Thake and Ivan Bartolo, two of Delia’s most vocal detractors, will not help Delia solidify his position within the parliamentary group. It is no secret that the PN parliamentary group is split and there have been efforts to oust Delia from the leadership.

The probable presence of Thake and Bartolo will therefore serve to further isolate him and undermine his position.