‘In my mind, it is not an issue of a position or title’ – Delia on PN shadow cabinet
“I only had one meeting with Grech and we didn't get into much detail. I am not prone to discussing an internal meeting with the leader as it is not prudent to do so.”
Former Opposition Leader Adrian Delia said that in his mind, “it is not about having a position or a title, as I will keep doing what I have always done for the party and the people.” He was responding to a question regarding his stand on not wanting a place in the PN’s shadow cabinet.
At the start of October, the PN elected a new leader for the party, Bernard Grech, after he went head-to-head in a leadership race with Delia. This resulted in a number of resignations from the party due to the rift that exists between Delia supporters and those who wanted to see a change in leadership.
However, despite this divide, Grech and Delia have expressed that they will work together for the good of the party, so much so that the new leader had asked his predecessor to take a position in the PN’s shadow Cabinet during their first meeting together.
The day after this meeting, Delia was asked what his role in the party will be, to which he replied: “we spoke in general and also about his thoughts. I think it is a bit premature, but I expressed my availability.” It was later revealed in the media that he does not wish to be in the shadow cabinet because he believes in the Westminster model, whereby former leaders do not take up such roles.
The Malta Independent spoke to Delia to get a better understanding of his stand on the subject.
“I only had one meeting with Grech and we didn't get into much detail,” Delia said. “I am not prone to discussing an internal meeting with the leader as it is not prudent to do so.”
Nonetheless, he did mention that during the meeting he expressed his support towards the new leader, “as one can see with how present I am in the parliamentary group,” and that they had no other encounter on the subject since then.
This newsroom noted that his predecessor, Simon Busuttil, had a position in the shadow cabinet after he had stepped down from the PN leadership role. Delia was asked if he would consider doing the same if it results in a more unified PN.
Delia did not give a direct answer, but rather explained that Busuttil was not a shadow of any minister as he had an independent position whereby he spoke about good governance.
“I had given him this post so that he can criticise and oversee the government's overall proceedings. Additionally, I wanted to recognise the fact that he was my predecessor.”
Asked if he thinks Grech is trying to do the same thing by offering him a place in the shadow cabinet, Delia said that they did not go into any specifics during the meeting.
He was also asked what position in the party would best suit him in his opinion.
“In my mind, it is not an issue of a position or a title,” he said. “I don't know what Grech has in mind as he has to take that decision. I will very much continue to do my job, that is, speaking about people's issues.”
Delia explained that he was focussed on bringing the party back to the people while he was the leader of the party. “This is something I will keep doing even now as an MP, it does not need a title.”
“Secondly, I will continue my critical, incisive attacks on the government in a constructive manner. I did this not because I was a leader of the party, but because I believe in it, in fighting injustices, and I still do.”
“My attitude remains the same, my passion remains the same and my time spent with the people is also the same, whether I am the leader of the party or not,” Delia said.