Somebody tell this man that it’s incredibly bad form to issue a challenge to a woman

If he wants a duel, he can have one with another man, and if he wants to enter the world of politics, he can start by learning some manners.

I am a journalist, not a politician. We are not in the same world. He is free to issue challenges to other politicians, but he is not free to offer them to journalists. That is not how it works and he has a lot to learn.

If Adrian Delia wishes me to interview him, I would be delighted to oblige. That is the only possible encounter between a journalist and a politician, even if it is only a would-be politician.

However, he hasn’t even answered the questions I have sent him by WhatsApp. These questions follow, and if his aides read them, they could possibly chase him for replies.

1. Mr Delia, I am informed that earlier this year, the Bank of Valletta closed “some or all” of your accounts. Do you confirm or deny this, and in the case of the former, what explanation can you give for the bank having taken this decision?

2. Dr Delia, what is Julian Micallef’s (Nuvole Boutique) role in your campaign?

3. Who is Nicholas Abdilla, with whom you set up Chris, Nicholas & Associates Co Ltd along with Eucharist Bajada (son, not father)? What was the purpose of the company? It appears to be inactive and no accounts or other documents have been filed for the last 17 years. Why was it not put into liquidation?

4. On a separate matter, at a time when Aequitas – your law firm – did work under contract/retainer for state organisations headed by Charles Demicoli, you were an equal shareholder in Lakenheath Co Ltd with his son, Edward, while Charles himself held the token one share. The contracts in question were controversial, but this shareholding was never mentioned in the press. How does this square with your avowed commitment to “fight corruption”, which must necessarily also involve avoiding the perception of corruption?