Updated: PN to take legal action if right of reply request about imbalance on Dissett not accepted

The Nationalist Party will be taking legal action if its request for a right of reply on Dissett is not accepted, spokesman Clyde Puli told a news conference today.

A decision taken by the Broadcasting Authority which awarded the Nationalist Party a three minute right of reply on PBS Head of News Reno Bugeja's current affairs programme Dissett was reversed on Monday.

The PN originally had filed a complaint citing an imbalance on the show. Energy and Health Minister Konrad Mizzi was invited alone to the current affairs show, where he answered questions about the Panamagate scandal.

Speaking at the conference held outside the Broadcasting Authority offices, PN Secretary General Rosette Thake said that the Broadcasting Authority is trying to silence the PN from speaking about the Panamagate scandal. "Nobody will stop the PN from asking the questions which need to be asked. It is clear that Joseph Muscat's strategy is to do this through attacks based on lies on party officials like Ann Fenech, and intimidation".

Mr Puli said that the PN has filed a request for a right of reply again, saying that the Broadcasting Authority's decision to reverse its original acceptance was appalling.

He said that the reversal of the BA's decision came from the BA Chairperson. The Chairperson said that our reply should be about everything, except Panama. This is not acceptable. The Chairperson is only one member of five, and on his own, he cannot overturn a decision taken by the BA taken collectively. Obviously, yesterday's response shows that this was not the case".

The effect of this reversal would censor the PN, he said. "The Opposition has every right to speak about what is on the people's minds, and right now the people are talking about Panama and three years of corruption".

Asked about the PN's loan scheme - which has the part requesting €10,000 loans from party supporters to be returned plus 4% in 10 years - PN secretary general Rosette Thake said that the scheme is aimed to help the party's finances.

She said that the names of the participants will only be published if they agreed.

While refusing to give details about the total debt of the PN, Dr Thake said that the party's debt has decreased in the last three years.

Asked whether the PN has paid back the €250,000 loan from building contractor Zaren Vassallo, Dr Thake said that the situation with Zaren Vassallo is a private matter, "however there is a good relationship with Zaren Vassallo and there is an arrangement".

PN letter to request right of reply

 

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