Adrian Delia defends ONE News invite to event

Updated 5.20pm

Nationalist Party leadership contender Adrian Delia has defended his decision to invite a journalist from Labour Party media station ONE to his campaign event. 

Delia confirmed with Times of Malta on Saturday that he was the one who asked his team to extend the invitation to a campaign event next week. 

“I asked my team to invite the journalist from ONE to one of the events,” he said.

"I wanted to give them the opportunity to ask me anything."

The move raised eyebrows within the party, with the PN’s Electoral Commission later issuing a formal statement warning candidates not to engage with media linked to rival political parties.

Delia said all journalists, including ONE News journalists, have the freedom to carry out their duties by asking him questions.

However, the only opportunities that ONE News have to ask questions are either by waiting for him as he enters or leaves parliament or at an event. 

"Their only way to reach me was for them to come to events, so instead of having to doorstep or wait, I gave them a chance to ask me anything."

He mentioned that he has appeared on practically all other local media platforms and wanted to give ONE News an opportunity to ask him their questions as well.

“I have always been open to questions,” he said. “Let’s not forget this is a democracy and the Nationalist Party always stood for debate, discussion and defending journalism.”

Delia believes someone flagged the invitation to the Electoral Commission, prompting him to justify his actions.

“I explained my reasoning that none of the regulations were breached,” he said, noting that he did not go on Labour Party media or give any formal interview.

On Friday, the Nationalist Party electoral commission released a document outlining that rival party media were prohibited from intervening in the campaign. Delia was then forced to withdraw his invitation.  

“Nonetheless, we decided to withdraw our invitation,” he added. “I will, as I always have, follow the party and given this is an official campaign, I will stay within the rules.”

In a statement issued on Friday night, the PN Electoral Commission described the campaign as an “internal election campaign within the Nationalist Party” and said neutrality must be preserved.

“It is clearly problematic for journalists associated with the opposing camp to be involved in this campaign, as it disrupts the purpose and neutrality of the process,” the commission said.

“Therefore, the Electoral Commission makes it clear that such involvement is prohibited.”

It also noted that interviews with party media require prior approval, and that no candidate may give interviews to media tied to rival political parties. Journalists wishing to attend campaign events must coordinate through the commission.

However, a Labour Party spokesperson claimed Delia’s team went beyond an invitation.

“Delia’s team contacted ONE News asking the newsroom for an interview with Dr Delia this Monday. ONE News accepted the offer,” the spokesperson said. 

Furthermore, they said that the election of an opposition leader is "a matter of national importance, and ONE News accepted Delia's invitation and would have even been willing to interview both contestants."

They argued the PN’s stance showed “disrespect for the media – including ONE News – and the PN deep distrust in its own candidates”.

They added that during Labour’s own leadership campaign, its candidates were not barred from appearing on NET TV.

Repeated attempts to seek a reaction from Alex Borg, the other PN leadership contender on Saturday, were in vain. 

The Institute of Maltese Journalists on Saturday condemned the PN’s media discrimination calling the measures “anti-democratic”.

“If the Nationalist Party truly believes in the democratic values it says it upholds, it should allow the contestants to be interviewed by all the media, without distinction,” the Institute said.

It reiterated its call for the “restrictive” rules to be withdrawn, suggesting the PN should instead create the framework for debate and free exchange of ideas “by making it easier for journalists to do their work”.