UPDATED/Underworld news: Chris Cardona’s chief of staff’s car set on fire last night while he was at the Stable bar

Mario Azzopardi, the boutique owner who is in business with the Economy Minister while also serving as his chief of staff, was at the infamous Stable bar in Valletta’s Sappers Street late last night (a week night) when his car, which was parked just outside the bar, was set on fire.

UPDATE: Azzopardi’s government boss, Chris Cardona, was with him at the bar at the time. Earlier in the evening, Cardona had been at the Labour Party’s electoral assembly, fighting for election as party deputy leader.

The Economy Minister is a regular at the Stable bar, a very small place just off Hastings garden. He can be found there several nights a week, sometimes as early as five o’clock in the afternoon.

By the time chief of staff Mario Azzopardi, who was drinking inside the bar, noticed that his Mercedes car was ablaze just a few metres away, the vehicle was destroyed. It was towed away early this morning.

The Economy Minister has tweeted his “solidarity”. I think he had better show more respect for the electorate by tweeting a few explanations, or better still, giving a press conference to help allay our growing concerns.

The Minister for the Economy and Labour Party deputy leader contender, Chris Cardona, with his chief of staff and private business partner, Mario Azzopardi, who owns Birkirkara and Hamrun boutiques Pardi and Scruples.