Anthony DeBono retracts threatening message sent to Adrian Delia
Proceedings against ambassador appointee's partner will stop after threats revoked
Anthony DeBono, who threatened PN MP Adrian Delia, has retracted his statement “in its entirety”, parliament heard on Thursday.
Earlier this week, Speaker Anglu Farrugia had found DeBono guilty of breaking parliamentary privilege rules after he sent messages that amounted to a “serious threat”.
The Speaker said he would be able to revise his decision “if there is a revocation without reservation of all the content of the messages”.
During Thursday’s sitting, Farrugia said that the person involved had sent the revocation, and so he was stopping proceedings.
"I inform you that I have received your message and I confirm that I will unreservedly withdraw the entire content of the message sent by me as indicated in the document presented by the said Hon. Adrian Delia," the message read.
DeBono appeared to threaten Delia by saying he would call several people the MP had previously crossed paths with and attempt to sour their relationship.
He also said he would speak to someone's “team to make it easier for [Delia] to have an excuse to not contest the next election”.
Those messages came after Delia grilled DeBono’s partner, Roseanne Camilleri, at the Public Appointments Committee as part of the approval process for her appointment as non-resident ambassador to Liechtenstein.
Delia’s line of questioning centred on Camilleri’s good governance record during her previous role as CEO of Primary Health Care.
Despite the committee’s opposition members voting against her appointment, Camilleri passed the grilling with the support of government MPs.
Camilleri’s ambassadorial appointment is set to proceed despite her partner sending the threatening messages.