PN accuses PBS of partisanship ahead of new autumn schedule

The Nationalist Party has accused the public broadcaster of partisanship ahead of its autumn schedule, pointing to “many” of its discussion programmes being hosted by persons of trust in government entities or those “closely linked” to the Labour Party.

In a statement Monday, the Opposition said with its new schedule, “PBS [Public Broadcasting Services Ltd] itself is confirming that it is everything but a station that belongs to all the people”.

“Many of the discussion programmes on PBS will be led by presenters who are either closely linked to the Labour Party or hold positions of trust in public entities run by the Labour government,” the party said.

“This continues to insult the intelligence of the Maltese and Gozitan people, who deserve critical and objective content in the field of current affairs and political discussion on the national broadcaster.”

The PN did not provide further details regarding the presenters to whom they were referring, but the national broadcaster has raised eyebrows by unveiling slots for podcaster Ricky Caruana, Arts Council Malta boss Luke Dalli and former One TV presenter Paula Cauchi, among others. 

“PBS cannot continue to serve as ‘Super One 2’,” the party said, in reference to Super One, the former name of Labour’s broadcasting arm, now ONE.

Stressing the broadcaster should be “free from interference and rampant partisanship”, the PN demanded that in the upcoming schedule, which it noted could lead up to a general election, “full respect is shown towards Malta’s Constitution, and that the public broadcaster no longer renders itself as a noticeboard for the Labour Government”.

It said the party would continue to participate in TVM (Television Malta) programmes – a station operated by PBS – “to act as a shield for the Maltese people and to ensure that the people of Malta and Gozo are exposed to the full truth”.

The statement was signed by Shadow Broadcasting Minister Graziella Attard Previ.