Adrian Delia: Malta’s Modern Pyrrhus

“If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” – Pyrrhus of Epirus (as quoted by Plutarch)

Pyrrhus

Pyrrhus was a Greek king and statesman of the Hellenistic period. He was king of the Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house, and later became king of Epirus.

One of the strongest opponents of early Rome, Pyrrhus is remembered as one of the greatest generals of antiquity. Yet his name lives on as a warning: a “Pyrrhic victory” – a win so costly that it destroys the victor himself.

There is no better way to describe Adrian Delia’s so-called “victory” in court. What he calls a triumph was, in truth, a Pyrrhic victory – a hollow success that crippled Malta’s ability to recover damages from Steward Healthcare.

Adrian Delia loves to parade himself as the so-called “hero” who fought the hospitals’ concession case in court. But when you strip away the theatrics, what remains is a man whose actions left Malta unable to recover a single cent in damages from Steward Healthcare. 

The truth is Delia’s legal action crippled the State’s ability to demand compensation. By rushing to file his own case, purely for political showmanship, Delia pre-empted the government’s own preparations for legal action.

Delia’s case annulled the contract from its inception. That means the concession was treated as if it never existed. As a result, the Government could not claim damages for the losses and missed opportunities caused by Steward’s failure to deliver, such as the revenue from medical tourism and the long-term benefits of modernised hospitals.

While Delia was busy posing for cameras, Steward Healthcare walked away without paying for the damage done.

This is the same Adrian Delia whose political career was built on failure, chaos, and personal vendettas. The man rejected by his own party now wants to rewrite history as if he were Malta’s saviour.

But facts are stubborn things.

The government’s hands were tied because of Delia’s courtroom ego trip, not because of inaction. He acted for headlines and not for national interest. When Delia speaks about “justice” and “fraud,” one should always remember that he destroyed the very legal basis for Malta to seek compensation.

If anyone owes the Maltese people an apology, it’s not Labour government; It’s Adrian Delia.