The Nationalist Party said it was refusing €10,000 worth of advertising since these represented blatant government propaganda about the Budget.

These spots, the PN said, had already been stopped by the Broadcasting Authority when the government tried to broadcast them on Public Broadcasting Services earlier in the week.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the Prime Minister wanted to buy the Nationalist Party. This was confirmation of his political philosophy that money was everything and with it he could by everything and everyone.

But the Nationalist Party was not for sale, Dr Busuttil said.

BUDGET MEASURES TROUBLING OPPOSITION LEADER - OPM

In a reply, the Office of the Prime Minister said the leader of the Opposition was denying the followers of the PN media from being informed of Budget measures.

Such censorship showed that the measures, from which all Maltese and Gozitans will benefit, were troubling the Opposition leader

The Broadcasting Authority, the OPM said, had only stopped one advert which was amended in line with the directive and decisions.