Updated at 6pm

President George Vella has finished meeting with MPs as part of an unprecedented process that could see Adrian Delia removed as leader of the opposition.  

Sources said not all opposition MPs responded to the president's request to meet over the last two days to discuss whether Delia has lost the confidence of the majority.

Under the constitution, the president has the power to revoke the PN leader's appointment as leader of the opposition in parliament. 

Robert Arrigo is abroad and did not speak to the President but David Thake, who is also abroad, met the President virtually, sources said. 

Therese Comodini Cachia, who 19 PN MPs have nominated as opposition leader to replace Delia, was among those who met with the president. 

It follows meetings with around eight opposition MPs on Thursday and phone calls with independent MPs Godfrey and Marlene Farrugia, who also sit on the opposition benches in parliament. 

The president began summoning MPs after Chris Said and Claudette Buttigieg went to the president on Thursday to trigger the process to dethrone Delia. 

The president met with Delia and PN MPs Chris Said, Claudette Buttigieg, Beppe Fenech Adami, Ivan Bartolo, Hermann Schiavone, Karl Gouder and Jason Azzopardi on Thursday.

On Friday, he met with Kristy Debono, Kevin Cutajar, Maria Dewguara, Clyde Puli, Ivan Bartolo, Toni Bezzina, Karol Aquilina, Ryan Callus and David Agius. It could not be established whether any others had been called in or if they met the president.  

Sources said the president is simply asking MPs whether they had confidence in Delia as Opposition leader. They are not being asked anything else, not even for justifications. 

Independent MPs Godfrey and Marlene Farrugia are currently abroad so the two had a phone call with the president. 

Godfrey Farrugia told Times of Malta that they had sent the president a written statement and later held a virtual meeting. 

“We are not part of PN parliamentary group but we are part of the opposition Parliamentary group and a representative of the people. Constitutionally, we have a say in the matter. A leader of Opposition does not represent only his party MP group but all Opposition MPs,” he said. 

Marlene and Godfrey Farrugia

Asked whether they recognised Therese Comodini Cachia as the new proposed Opposition leader, Farrugia said they “acknowledged her nomination with the President”.

Delia is insisting he will remain leader of the PN and the opposition, despite losing his parliamentary group's support on Tuesday after 19 MPs voted against him while 11 backed him.

Under article 90 of the constitution, the president can remove the leader of the opposition if he judges that he has no longer the support of the majority. 

According to three Constitutional experts, the president is bound to act once he ascertains that Delia does not enjoy the confidence of the majority of PN MPs. 

If appointed, Comodini Cachia will become the first woman in Malta to ever take up the role of opposition leader.

The vote took place amid dwindling support for the PN and two days after Times of Malta revealed messages exchanged between murder suspect Yorgen Fenech and Delia.