PN Leader Adrian Delia has replaced some 500 councillors since ascending to the leadership a year and a half ago, the group who submitted a petition calling for a confidence vote have claimed.

“This means that he’s changed around 33% of those eligible to vote,” the group said, adding that “without a doubt, this will have a substantial impact on the result of the vote.”

The group says that several expelled councillors were not even informed of their removal, some of whom have been long-time activists in the party.

“These were removed to put in people like Julian Micallef,” they said referencing the claims that he was running a network of fake Facebook profiles within the PN while also sending people to stalk Delia’s ex-wife and internal critics.

While he has conceded that fake profiles “have existed in the PN for a long time”, Micallef has categorically denied all of the allegations levelled towards him. It should be noted the newsroom has also received several screenshots showing the contrary.

The group claimed that they are yet to have access to the entire list of councillors, having been provided with old data making it impossible to communicate their message to the party’s councillors.

“For the sake of democracy that the PN has always championed, we are calling for an end to these manoeuvres and the vote next Wednesday and Saturday is independent just, and transparent, where everyone has the opportunity to present their arguments.”

The statement was signed by Mark Anthony Sammut, Ivan Bartolo, Emma Portelli Bonnici, Emvin Bartolo, and Martin Musumeci.

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