Critical PN MP Finds Unlikely Ally After Adrian Delia Gives Ultimatum
A top criminal lawyer has come to the defence of a PN MP after Adrian Delia told him to do some “soul-searching” and gave him an ultimatum.
Today, Franco Debono said that “Jason Azzopardi is absolutely right” in a Facebook status defending an earlier status posted by Jason Azzopardi that was considered to be a veiled dig at Adrian Delia.
“Jason Azzopardi is absolutely right. Respect and cordiality between adversaries is something good, and that’s how it should be. However, that one takes or even gives the slightest impression that they are taking advice from an adversary doesn’t just weaken him considerably, if it doesn’t destroy him completely, is completely abhorrent. Fiorentina respects Milan, but they won’t be taking advice from them! And you think Milan would be that arrogant that they would assume to give advice to their adversaries? What is this country coming too!” he said in his post.
Debono, a former Nationalist MP whose vote famously brought down the last PN government, has previously urged Delia to bring his critics on board.
Jason Azzopardi had posted a cryptic post earlier this week, using football teams as a metaphor for politicians
Which led to Adrian Delia issuing his own battling words on NET’s discussion programme 10Q
“If it is true that that post was saying that,” Delia said yesterday, “and if it wasn’t, then Jason Azzopardi needs to clarify it. I think Jason Azzopardi needs to do some soul-searching, and if he really thinks that, then he truly needs to see whether his position within the PN is still tenable.”
Jason Azzopardi has since downplayed his comments, saying “Adrian didn’t take my comment badly at all”
In comments to the Times of Malta, he said that his football-themed post was aimed at “Labour loyalists”, and said people were “making a fuss when I said nothing extraordinary”.
“All I said was that the PN should make up its own mind. Advice from opponents is worthless,” he said.
This is not the first time that Franco Debono and Jason Azzopardi – who are both criminal lawyers – saw eye to eye on an issue, with the PN MP recently thanking Debono in the latter’s role as Law Commissioner in a debate on judicial appointments.