PN wants PBS to stop airing ‘deceitful’ TV spots on gas-fired power station

The Nationalist Party yesterday accused Public Broadcasting Services and the Broadcasting Authority of working together by allowing government propaganda to be aired without giving it (the PN) the right of replying.

The PN said it had written about the “misleading” and “deceitful” spots on the gasfired power station being aired on TVM to PBS Head of News Reno Bugeja.

It said that these political adverts are highly controversial, incorrect and full of lies – “the aim is to mislead people about the LNG tanker that Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi will be placing just a few metres away from Marsaxlokk houses.”

The PN said it sent a letter to Reno Bugeja on 24 September but he did not reply, despite being obliged to respond within three days. Not satisfied, the PN then contacted the Broadcasting Authority.

“Six days have passed since the complaint was made but the BA has still not fixed a date for the hearing,” the PN said, adding that this was an urgent request due to the nature of the political spots.

“It is clear that the BA and the PBS are working together to delay the PN’s protest until after the campaign has ended and to deny the PN the right to reply with its own political spots.