Adrian Delia loves to lecture everyone about meritocracy, transparent choices, and clean politics. But when you scratch beneath the slogans, what you find is the same old Nationalist establishment game — direct orders, cosy contracts, and zero public scrutiny.
This week, Georg Sapiano, his long-time ally and business partner, wrote a brazen piece blaming Delia’s own marriage for his political meltdown. A desperate move to keep Delia’s “clean leader” fairy tale alive — while ignoring the mountain of dirty facts that prove otherwise.
The €200,000 Direct Order Club
Let’s refresh the memory of every PN delegate who still buys Delia’s spin. The Ministry and entities under then-Minister Tonio Fenech handed Delia’s law firm, Aequitas Legal, around €200,000 in direct orders. No tenders. No competition. Just old boys looking after each other.
Aequitas Legal — Delia and Sapiano’s Cash Machine
Aequitas Legal, the firm fronted by Adrian Delia and Georg Sapiano, thrived under PN governments like a parasite. Former Minister Chris Cardona laid out the figures in black and white in Parliament:
Kordin Grain Terminal: Between 2008 and 2013, Aequitas bagged over €70,000 in direct orders for “consultancy”. That’s €1,000 a month — no tender, no questions asked.
Tonio Fenech’s Ministry: In 2009 alone, Aequitas was handed over €150,000 — again, behind closed doors.
Austin Gatt’s Ministry — More of the Same
It doesn’t stop there. Minister Ian Borg exposed how Aequitas milked another Ministry — this time under Austin Gatt.
Transport Malta (then ADT):
- €80,000 for “consultancy” on the Arriva bus reform — a fiasco everyone remembers.
- €120,000 for “consultancy” on new taxi rules.
And if that wasn’t enough, Aequitas helped itself to more direct orders for the Bieb il-Belt project and Baċir Numru Weeħed in Cospicua — pocketing another €15,000.
This same Baċir project was neglected for years under the PN, left half-finished and deadly dangerous. It took a Labour administration to clean up the mess and turn it into a place people actually enjoy today.
Meritocracy? Spare Us the Sermons
Adrian Delia used to boast he earned €220 an hour as a lawyer. He bragged about being “the new man” who would sweep out the old PN establishment. Now we know: he was the establishment — gorging on direct orders while the taxpayer picked up the tab.
This is the same Delia who failed spectacularly as PN leader. And when his record crumbled, Georg Sapiano blamed his wife. Typical: blame everyone except the man himself.
A Final Word for the Delegates
Next time Delia stands before you preaching about meritocracy, fairness, and clean politics — remember the facts:
Hundreds of thousands in direct orders with no tenders.
Cosy connections under PN Ministers.
A law firm making a killing while Malta got Arriva and unfinished projects.
Adrian Delia is no new man — he’s an old game in a cheap new suit.
