Updated 4.10pm

The new head of news at Public Broadcasting Services should be appointed after a public call to ensure that the selected person is competent and independent, the Nationalist Party said on Wednesday.

Norma Saliba announced she was stepping down from the post in a Facebook post on Tuesday after three years at its helm.  

The PN, through its spokesman Graham Bencini, said a public call would be in line with what is being proposed by the European Union in the Media Freedom Act. Those proposals had been praised by Culture Minister Owen Bonnici, who is responsible for broadcasting.  

The PN said public calls for this role had been issued several times when it was in government.

It said the selection committee should be formed of people who are competent in journalism and management and enjoy widespread respect. 

A call for the new head of news to be appointed by a public call was also made earlier on Wednesday by PN MEP candidate Peter Agius, who said there is a need for more transparency at the public broadcaster.  

“We can’t have another hand-picked head of news,” Agius said in a statement.

“Norma Saliba's departure from PBS gives Labour the chance to walk the talk on media freedom.”  

“We simply cannot afford to have another PBS head of news hand-picked by Castille,” he added.